Interfax news agency reported on Friday that Abramovich was one of eight candidates approached by Putin's envoy in the Far East over the job of governor of Chukotka, an icy eastern outpost across the Bering Straits from Alaska.

Inclusion on the shortlist is seen as a seal of Kremlin approval, although the regional legislature still has to choose between the nominees. Observers say Abramovich will most likely get the nod from local deputies.

"Konstantin Pulikovsky made the offer to Roman Abramovich at a personal meeting," Interfax quoted Pulikovsky's spokesman as saying.

Abramovich, who controls Russia's fifth largest oil producer Sibneft and has won notoriety through a string of extravagant purchases including the British soccer club, was not available to comment.

He became governor of Chukotka in 2000 and his term expires this year.

Abramovich has sold most of his Russian assets besides Sibneft and rumours have swirled in the business community that he felt increasingly out of Putin's favour and wanted to pull out of Russia altogether.