Roman Abramovich is courting interest over the prospects of selling Chelsea. Representatives of the oligarch have travelled to Saudi Arabia and Dubai to elicit interest in the club, Gulf sources have told The Sunday Times.

At least one of the meetings was with members of the Saudi royal family. There has been no evidence so far of a potential buyer.

One source said: "Abramovich's team have been out in the Middle East sounding out what interest there is in buying the club." Chelsea insisted last night that Abramovich was still fully committed to the club on which he has lavished hundreds of millions of pounds. A Chelsea spokesman said it was "total nonsense" that the Russian was willing to sell the club.

He bought Chelsea for about £60m in 2003, taking over £80m in debts, and has since provided at least £500m in loans to buy new players. Sources say that if Abramovich can recoup his money, he might now be ready to sell after five years in which he turned Chelsea into a Champions League side that has twice won the English Premier League.