INEOS move closer to bombshell Man United decision Sir Jim Ratcliffe is 100% on board with | OneFootball

There could be change all around at Manchester United after fans signposted their desire for INEOS to help build a new stadium.

The Red Devils have occupied Old Trafford since 1910 and have developed capacity to 74,310 – making it the largest club stadium in England.

However, the Theatre of Dreams is not without its issues. This was clearly demonstrated during a 1-0 defeat to Arsenal at the tail-end of the 2023/24 Premier League campaign as rainfall waterfalled off the edge of the roof between the Sir Alex Ferguson Stand and East Stand.

Perhaps a change in management after Erik ten Hag’s sacking might inspire further fixes in the red half of Manchester.

Man United news: Fans make thoughts clear on Old Trafford

(Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)

Ben Jacobs reported on X (formerly Twitter) on Tuesday morning that a Manchester United fan survey revealed supporters were largely in favour (52%) of building a new stadium.

Whether this equates to a viable majority in INEOS’ eyes remains to be seen. However, it will surely be a confidence boost to the organisation’s CEO, Sir Jim Ratcliffe, who is understood to be personally in favour of building a new stadium.

“If it can be achieved, it would clearly be my preference,” the 72-year-old told BBC Sport. “I would be very excited for the north of England.”

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What are the problems with Old Trafford?

The absolute stinger in the tail for Ratcliffe and the MUFC hierarchy will no doubt have been the Etihad Stadium overtaking Old Trafford as a more viable venue.

Though it’s far from being the only problem in need of addressing:

The cost of a building vs redeveloping Old Trafford

It’s fair to say that a ‘Wembley of the North’ is going to set back the Red Devils quite a bit. Certainly more than a fair chunk of change judging by prior comparable renovations and builds from competitors across the Premier League.

Assuming that Sir Jim Ratcliffe has aspirations of maintaining (if not expanding) Old Trafford’s current capacity, it’s a potential project that will require serious financial backing.

With United’s ground crumbling into obscurity day by day, it may very well be more cost-effective to build an upgrade on one of England’s once most hallowed grounds.