In the Philippines promoting the UFC's May 16 event in Manilla, Overeem says he hopes to finally set a date against the former heavyweight champion.
The pair have been linked since early last year, but nothing has come together due to Overeem's injury issues.
In February 2014 UFC president Dana White slammed Overeem for rejecting two separate dates to face dos Santos, including a five-round main event in Brazil.
"He wants nothing to do with dos Santos," White said last year. "He's literally hiding from JDS ... but he had no problem calling out Brock Lesnar who hasn't fought in two years and who is in WWE.