Chelsea have refuted claims that Roman Abramovich wants to sell the club.

It has been reported that Abramovich is using US bank Raine Group to value the club ahead of putting it on the market. But club sources are adamant that nothing has changed since a £2billion offer from Britain’s “richest man” Jim Ratcliffe was turned down in the summer.

They also maintain that they are not actively looking to sell and a club source familiar with the situation insisted that Chelsea is not for sale.

It remains to be seen whether a bigger would change things as doubts about Abramovich’s future after the Russian billionaire was caught up in a row over his UK visa in May, effectively stopping him from working in England.

(Image: Getty Images Europe)

(Image: Getty Images Europe)

Chelsea have already put plans on hold to redevelop Stamford Bridge into a 60,000 seater stadium which would have cost Abramovich £500m.

However, Chelsea may yet look for outside investment as it was Raine Group who helped Manchester City secure an investment of £265m from China Media Capital through the sale of a 13 per cent stake in the club.

Abramovich arrived in English football in 2003 when he paid just £150m for Chelsea and had the wealth to blow all of their rivals away in the transfer market.

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(Image: Darren Walsh)

(Image: Darren Walsh)

But the likes of City and Manchester United have caught up while Liverpool have also attracted interest from foreign investors looking to buy into the club.

It may yet be that Chelsea and Abramovich would consider outside investment to help them redevelop Stamford Bridge.

Abramovich bankrolled the Blues' summer spending — including a world-record £71m swoop for keeper Kepa Arrizabalaga — to boost new boss Maurizio Sarri, which the club insist proves the owner’s commitment for the longer term.