After a string of failed attempts, efforts are under way for Manny Pacquiao to bring his act to the Middle East again this year.

The opponent being targeted is former world champion Kell Brook, nicknamed "The Special One" and holder of a sterling 40-3 win-loss mark with 28 knockouts.

A source who has close links to the eight-division champion said over the weekend that the Filipino southpaw has been briefed about the plan for him to unretire and resurface in the Middle East.

Though retired at the moment, Pacquiao, 44, has been pretty active lately.

Just before the year ended, he engaged Korean mixed-martial artist DK Yoo in a six-round exhibition in Goyang, Korea.

Last week, Pacquiao even inked a contract with Japanese MMA promotional outfit Rizin for a planned exhibition this year.

Despite losing to marquee names Errol Spence, Terence Crawford and Gennady Golovkin, Brook remains a solid foe based on his wins over former Pacquiao sparring partners Amir Khan and Shawn Porter.

Pacquiao, who retired after absorbing a shock loss to Yordenis Ugas of Cuba in August 2021 in Las Vegas, sports a 62-8-2 mark with 39 knockouts.