Deutsche Bank and ABN Amro are understood to have held talks with Gazprom, the Russian state-owned gas group, with a view to financing its $10bn (€7.5bn) proposed takeover offer for OAO Yuganskneftegaz, the main unit of Yukos Oil and the country's largest oil exporter.

One source familiar with the Russian government's auction of Yugansk, scheduled for December 19, told Financial News that Deutsche Bank had made several proposals to Gazprom in connection with possible takeovers in Russia.