Is this what the ‘Wembley of the North’ will look like? Stunning new AI images reveal how Manchester United’s 100,000 seater stadium could look as Sir Jim Ratcliffe weighs up move away from Old Trafford

New AI images of what Manchester United’s ‘Wembley of the North’ could look like have emerged following Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s proposal for a new-look ground.

Ratcliffe, dubbed ‘a man in a hurry’ following his minority takeover of United last month, has made no secret of his desire to re-develop or move away from Old Trafford.

He has assembled a task force to either help that happen, though the British billionaire has admitted the club may have to settle for re-developing Old Trafford, the ground United moved into in 1910.

Now, via OLBG, AI images of what a potential new ground could look like have been shared, with similarities to Wembley obvious.

AI images of what a ‘Wembley of the North’ Old Trafford could look like have been displayed

Manchester United are keen to either renovate Old Trafford or move to a brand new ground

New minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe has expressed his desire to improve his club’s home

There is a strong argument that a refurbishment of the existing stadium, opened in 1910, would only prove to be a short-term measure. Expanding the current, 74,000-capacity ground could cost around £800million while a new-build may be anywhere between £1billion and £2bn.

INEOS have experience in finding funding for vast infrastructure projects and are currently in the process of building a new £5bn chemical plant in Antwerp, Belgium. Agreement over financing would need to be reached with majority owners the Glazers, who are understood to be happy to let INEOS take the lead. A

Any debt would have to be serviced and repaid but would be a different prospect than the existing debt from the Glazers’ leveraged buyout as it would be going on a facility that would significantly increase the club’s revenues. 

‘We can refurbish the ground and have a fantastic stadium, that will take about a billion to do that, and the club can shoulder that burden,’ Ratcliffe said in a recent interview via The Independent. ‘But we have got this opportunity to build a new ground if we choose to. We’ve got enough space to build a completely new ground.

‘If we build a completely new ground, it would be state of the art, world-class, 90,000 or even 100,000. I think that then provides a platform for some of the big competitions in the north of England. Why shouldn’t England play in the north? Why is the FA Cup final always in the south?

‘It needs to have a stadium that is befitting the club and the brand. That might have been the case 20 years ago, but it isn’t today. [Old Trafford] is a little bit tired.’

The capacity of the ground could be improved to up to 100,000 when the work is done

Former United defender Gary Neville is on the task force to help improve the situation

Neville, meanwhile, said of his appointment to the task force: ‘I’m delighted to be part of a task force looking at the regeneration of Old Trafford and the surrounding area. I’ve spoken many times about the importance of creating a special place around Old Trafford.

‘Obviously I’m passionate about Manchester United winning on the pitch, but I feel it’s equally important for Manchester United to win off the pitch aswell.

‘Manchester United should have a world-class stadium befitting of its status as the world’s greatest club and if this is achieved it will be a landmark project for the whole of Greater Manchester helping to create growth and opportunity.

‘Over the last few years we’ve seen the regeneration of other stadiums both in this country and internationally that have set the standard and it’s an honour to be asked to play a small part in helping the club to deliver a best-in-class stadium and regeneration of the surrounding area and I can’t wait to get started.’