The Chelsea kingpin plans to splash out £7 million on a live music venue to be built underneath the Stamford Bridge pitch in order to host exclusive private gigs for his friends and business colleagues. The venue, with capacity for 500 people, will add a final flourish to the entertainment Abramovich lays on for his guests on match days.

The Sunday Times Rich List estimates Abramovich’s wealth at £10.8 billion making him the UK’s second richest person behind steel magnate Lakshmi Mittal.

Even a £155 million divorce settlement with his ex-wife Irina hasn’t quelled the oligarch’s desire to make Chelsea the No 1 destination for the world’s best footballers. In addition to paying a combined total of £250,000 per week to secure the services of Michael Ballack and Andriy Shevchenko, Abramovich has also ploughed millions into Chelsea’s newly unveiled state of the art training “campus” in Cobham, Surrey.

Although no bands or artists are yet to be confirmed to play at Roman’s new venue, several chart toppers will no doubt already be angling for the chance to entertain him. 80s crooner Lionel Richie recently performed at Blues skipper John Terry’s wedding while George Michael has previously played similar one-off private gigs. Hot favourites, though, must be wrinkly rockers The Rolling Stones whose documented love of green could see them on the Blues’ underground stage.