Luke Campbell is targeting a return to the ring early in the new year.

The Olympic gold medallist has a record of 20-3 with 16 quick and was last in the ring back in August.

Campbell was outpointed by unanimous decision by Vasiliy Lomachenko at the O2 Arena in London, exclusively live on Sky Sports Box Office, ESPN and DAZN, for the vacant WBC world lightweight title and the latter’s WBA Super and WBO crowns.

And the 32-year-old, who has also lost to Jorge Linares for the world title, looks set to be back in the first quarter of 2020, potentially in a rematch against the Venezuelan.

“We’re looking to be out early February,” said ‘Cool Hand’ in an interview with talkSPORT. “We do have an opponent in mind, but I don’t really want to say in case it excites everybody and then doesn’t come off.

“We are looking for a big fight that would excite a lot of the fans. I would love to fight Linares again.”

Linares, for what it’s worth, was beaten by the aforementioned Lomachenko back in May 2018 at Madison Square Garden in New York.

He then beat Abner Cotto by knockout before a shock stoppage defeat in the opening round at the hands of Pablo Cesar Cano for the WBC International Silver super-lightweight title and was most recently in action back in September in Tokyo, Japan, when he convincingly outpointed Al Toyogon over 10 rounds.

Campbell, a former WBC International, WBC Silver and Commonwealth champion at lightweight, insists details will come soon about his next fight.

“I think they’re in negotiations [for the rematch against Jorge Linares], but that’s the fight that I really want.”

Further details regarding Campbell’s ring return will be revealed in due course.