Mohamed Al Fayed bought Fulham for £6.25m in 1997. Photograph: Tony O'Brien/Action ImagesFulham are the subject of intense speculation that their owner, Mohamed Al Fayed, is in talks to sell the club to a foreign party.
Fulham would not comment on Wednesday over reports that Al Fayed was ready to end his 16-year spell at the west London club, where he has invested around £200m.
During Al Fayed's tenure Fulham have risen from the fourth tier to the Premier League although reports claim the 84-year-old is now ready to walk away after buying the club for £6.25m in 1997.
This year Al Fayed, who sold Harrods to Qatar Holdings for £1.5bn three years ago, converted £200m worth of loans he has paid to the club into equity, effectively making the club debt-free.
Meanwhile the Australian goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer has signed a one-year contract with Chelsea, having left Fulham at the end of last season.
