In an effort to set up a £100million bout with world heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua, Eddie Hearn is looking to get American Deontay Wilder on his books.

Hearn is said to be preparing an offer for the man who has held the WBC heavyweight championship since 2015.

Currently not signed to a promotional agreement, Wilder could be in for huge pay day if he signs with Hearn, who is eager to get him on side.

"Yeah, I’d definitely like to sign Deontay Wilder,” said Matchroom’s MD.

“I think that’s a real possibility.

"Imagine how big Deontay Wilder would be if he signed for us, in the heavyweight mix that we've got.

"Tony Bellew against David Haye, Joshua, Dillian Whyte.

“If I was Deontay Wilder, how could I not think that signing with us was a good idea? We’ve got a foot in with American partners, we work with everybody, we’ve got a massive fight lined up with Dillian Whyte.

“I could pay him probably double his highest ever purse to face Whyte and then I could set up the Joshua fight very easily. Why wouldn’t you do that?

"And contractually he can do it because he doesn't have a promotional agreement with anyone at the moment."

The 32-year-old was scheduled to be ringside this Saturday for Joshua's unification fight with WBO title holder Joseph Parker, but Wilder has reportedly decided against travelling to Cardiff after being told he wouldn't be allowed in the ring to confront the winner.

With 39 stoppages from his 40 bouts, Wilder is adamant he will remain the central figure in the division, regardless of who wins.

“I’ve been saying it for years - I’m the best in the division, which I proved to the haters against Luis Ortiz,” said the Bronze Bomber.

“I love proving people wrong and I’ll do it time and time again. Us Americans choose our own path, I do what I want to do. I’m too athletic, I’m too hostile, I punch too hard. No other heavyweight has the agility I have. I move like a middleweight.

“I’m very confident in what I do in the ring. There’s no man that I have stood in front of that I haven’t knocked out. I am the one that ends all of their plans. I’m too dangerous for them.”

Hearn's offer, however, may need to change, with Wilder not interested in a potential fight with fellow countryman Dillian Whyte.

“A king doesn’t chase a peasant. I want Joshua, not Whyte. If they don’t give me that fight, I have other plans. Why should I go to England and fight a peasant?

“If AJ beats Parker, there’s no more waiting. The fans want it. I want it. I will go anywhere in the world to fight. I was about to go to Russia, so I’ll go to England.

“It’s good to make money, but you can’t keep sitting around just fighting these other guys. We have the chance to put it all on the line.

“Eddie and AJ - don’t wait, make the date! No more ducking, no more dodging. Let’s see who’s the best, are you up to the test?”