By Keith Idec

If Wladimir Klitschko is going to fight Lucas Browne on December 10, the former heavyweight champion’s representatives are going to have to offer Browne more money.

Sources close to the negotiations have indicated Browne is unhappy with the $1 million offered from the Klitschko side for a WBA title bout that would take place somewhere in Germany. Klitschko’s handlers withdrew from negotiations earlier this week with British promoter Eddie Hearn for a December 10 bout against Anthony Joshua (17-0, 17 KOs) in Manchester, England.

The 40-year-old Klitschko (64-4, 53 KOs) reportedly wants to fight for the WBA title before pursuing a fight against Joshua either in the spring or summer. If negotiations cease with representatives for the 37-year-old Browne (24-0, 21 KOs) for a fight that would take place seven weeks from Saturday, Klitschko would need to find an opponent quickly in order to properly promote the event.

England’s Tyson Fury (25-0, 18 KOs), who Klitschko was supposed to fight October 29 in Manchester, vacated the WBA heavyweight title last week because he is undergoing treatment for cocaine use and depression.

The WBA lists Klitschko as its No. 2 contender. Browne is ranked No. 5 by the WBA.

Russia’s Alexander Ustinov (33-1, 24 KOs) is ranked No. 3 by the WBA. Ustinov sits one spot ahead of Puerto Rico’s Fres Oquendo (37-8, 24 KOs), who hasn’t fought since July 2014.

Cuba’s Luis Ortiz (25-0, 22 KOs), the WBA’s interim heavyweight champion, is scheduled to make a title defense against Philadelphia’s Malik Scott (38-2-1, 13 KOs) on November 12 in Monte Carlo (HBO).

RTL, the German television station with which Klitschko has an exclusive contract, wants him to fight December 10 because it typically doesn’t televise live boxing during January or February. HBO Sports also has expressed interest in broadcasting Klitschko’s next bout, but the premium-cable channel also is exploring televising the Joseph Parker-Andy Ruiz WBO heavyweight title fight and a Terence Crawford fight on December 10.

Keith Idec covers boxing for The Record and Herald News, of Woodland Park, N.J., and BoxingScene.com. He can be reached on Twitter @Idecboxing.