Roman Abramovich, Chelsea's new billionaire Russian owner, has vowed to turn the London club into a major international force and has already started making enquiries about buying some of the game's leading players.

Abramovich bought a controlling interest in Chelsea last week and several British newspapers carried interviews with him on Sunday.

"Chelsea should be an international team, the best players need to play," he told the Sunday Times. "What they nearly have now is a top European team."

Abramovich initially told Chelsea chairman Ken Bates that he would invest 30 million pounds ($50.04 million) on players, but Sunday's papers were full of speculation that he was prepared to spend a much higher figure.

Arsenal trio Thierry Henry, Patrick Vieira and Sol Campbell,

Everton's teenaged England striker Wayne Rooney, unsettled Leeds United midfielder Harry Kewell, Barcelona striker Patrick Kluivert and Paris St Germain's Brazilian playmaker Ronaldinho were all reported to be on his shopping list.

Most, if not all, of those bids would have little chance of success but Abramovich is aiming high.

"I see Chelsea being in between Manchester United and Real

Madrid," the 36-year-old Russian said.

"I don't believe the model of Real Madrid would fit in the English structure.

"At Manchester United, there is an academy that is preparing future players. But when you have to make a purchase, you do."

Abramovich has turned his provincial ice hockey outfit Avangard Omsk into one of Russia's top teams and says he enjoys the involvement his investment allows.

"The coach will determine which areas are in need of new players," he said of his plans for Chelsea. "I will participate in that process, discussion and analysis. This is what the pleasure is all about.

"Buying Chelsea is a way to realise my ambitions. My message to the fans is that I will do everything possible to ensure they enjoy the game as much as me."