Boxing politics and one-upmanship at the negotiating table have so far scuppered prospects of the fights being made before Haye’s self-imposed retirement in October this year.

However, the Londoner has suggested he may meet Germany-based Ukrainian Wladimir after all, talking on Twitter of something “potentially being on the horizon” and saying “things them are brewing”.

Should the fight happen, it could be on July 2, with Germany looking favourite to host it and Britain and Las Vegas also possibilities.

That would probably mean Wladimir honouring his rescheduled mandatory defence against another Briton, Dereck Chisora, on April 30, while Haye’s more immediate plans are unclear.

He is due to defend against mandatory challenger Ruslan Chagaev, who has problems getting licensed due to suffering from Hepatitis B, with unbeaten Russian Alexander Povetkin the next highest-ranked opponent.

Haye had doubted Wladimir’s suggestion that he could meet Chisora in April and fight again barely two months later in July.

But should it pan out that way, it would enable the Englishman to face Wladimir and then possibly Vitali, the elder Klitschko, in September or October before retiring ahead of his 31st birthday.