According to The Sun, the task force working on Manchester United's future home has agreed that building a new stadium next to Old Trafford is the "most logical proposal."

Modernization will extend to the Trafford Park area. What about Old Trafford?

The stadium project, with a capacity of 100,000 spectators, is estimated to cost an astounding £2 billion. The decision comes after research on other stadiums, including Bernabéu and Camp Nou. Foster+Partners revealed new visuals of the New Trafford design, featuring a round shape and a large roof, along with the club's crest on the pitch. Red lights will illuminate a path full of fans heading towards the entrance gates. Nearby, there will be a gallery and large windows overlooking a park and statues of United legends.

They also prepared a map showing how the entire Trafford Park area could look, assuming the urban regeneration plan includes new homes, shopping spaces, and better transport connections. Manchester's mayor, Andy Burnham, said: This could be the largest regeneration project ever seen in this country. While there were initial plans to keep Old Trafford as a smaller secondary sports venue, it is increasingly likely that the stadium will be completely demolished.

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Fans are divided, but all signs point to a new stadium

United legend Gary Neville has openly spoken about the need to resolve the stadium debate. He supports the new stadium plans, stating that Old Trafford is no longer up to par. However, not all Manchester United fans seem to agree with this potential change. The club has asked 30,000 fans for their opinions, and the decision was nearly split between staying or moving.

According to Manchester Evening News, construction on the new stadium, along with the entire infrastructure, could begin in the summer of 2025, with the full project expected to be completed by 2030, and the stadium opening as early as 2028.

© Alex Hannam