The new Manchester United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe is reportedly hoping to turn Old Trafford into the “Wembley of the North”, teasing ambitious plans to redevelop the club and its ageing stadium, as well as potentially reaching out to the government for extra funding.
Ratcliffe and the INEOS Group completed their 25% purchase of the football club on Christmas Eve 2023 and have gradually been laying foundations to rebuild the club and its infrastructure, such as installing Sir Dave Brailsford. Updating their iconic home ground is also at the top of the agenda for a lot of fans.
Speaking to Telegraph Sport in an exclusive interview, sources close to Ratcliffe have relayed that the British billionaire “feels the club needs an absolute state-of-the-art, knock-it-out-of-the-park, ‘wow’ stadium” to compete with the likes of the Etihad, Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and, of course, Wembley.
For anyone who’s been living under a rock over the past few seasons, not only has the level of football and success declined in the post-Sir Alex Ferguson years at United but so too have the Old Trafford facilities, with numerous clips of leaks, even crumbling debris and more going viral.
There's a leak at Old Trafford. Imagine having a ticket in that seat tonight. 😂🌧
Nevertheless, the Failsworth-born businessman and his executive team apparently “feel there’s a strong argument for the country having a top-class major venue in the North – a Wembley of the North”, and that with the right investment Old Trafford can become that location.
While there had been some calls to bulldoze the site altogether and build a brand-new stadium, especially when Qatari investors were still looking to buy the club outright, the question of whether to renovate or start again is a sticking point for many, including Ratcliffe himself.
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The report goes on to state that Ratcliffe is “broadly opposed to the idea of United having to relocate but believes supporters would be amenable to the idea of a world-leading new stadium on land immediately surrounding Old Trafford, the club’s home for the past 114 years.”
EXCL. Sir Jim Ratcliffe wants #MUFC to create the “Wembley of the North” under bold plans for a spectacular new Old Trafford home. Could seek to lobby government for funds amid “Levelling Up” pledges given potential scale/nature of project This & more: https://t.co/Bx2sJij9HU
As the sources go on to say, “The spiritual home is important” but they did go on to add that “We think the fans would be quite happy to accept a brand new stadium if we stay where we are.”
Other key features that the current stadium lacks include reliable public WiFi and a screen for VAR decisions, which more and more clubs now have as standard given its prevalence in the modern game.
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However, the problem presented by simply refurbishing the existing structure is that as the likes of Chris Lee, the managing director of Populous — the architectural designers overseeing the project — already told the outlet in December that a new stadium may end up being the cheapest option long-term.
They went on to insist that “the building is reaching the end of its natural life”, detailing that “the cabling, the electricity supplies, everything is nearing its sell-by date”. The question is, Reds, would you update the existing Old Trafford or knock it down and start again?
Manchester City have officially revealed their fourth signing of the summer window after confirming the transfer of top target Tijjani Reijnders.
The highly sought-after Serie A midfielder joins the club from AC Milan on a five-year contract for an initial fee of approximately £46.5 million, after having been tracked by a number of clubs across Europe over the past season or so.
Reijnders, 26, registered 15 goals and five assists from central midfielder last season (more than any other player in the league) with Italian football journalist Mina Rzouki stating that he models his game on Kevin De Bruyne, making him the perfect replacement for the Belgian – on paper, at least.
Finally unveiled on Wednesday, 11 June, he is arguably the statement signing of what looks to be a continued spending spree which began back in January.
With Man City splashing roughly £200m to kick off the 2025 calendar year as they brought the likes of Omar Marmoush and a trio of defensively geared players in Abdukodir Khusanov, Vitor Reis and CDM Nico Gonzalez, it seems like they started as they mean to go on.
Chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak assured fans that the club would be picking up “several players” in a recent interview after he argued they hadn’t been aggressive enough last summer, and given that the current main window hasn’t even been open for a fortnight yet, we’d say he’s sticking to that promise.
This year actually marks a rare instance of the transfer window being broken up into two parts due to the FIFA Club World Cup (which City are among the favourites to win) and will then re-open on 16 June.
Nevertheless, the Blues look to have got plenty of their business done already, not only with the arrival of Reijnders but the acquisition of left-back Rayan Aït-Nouri earlier this week, plus another attack-minded midfielder, Rayan Cherki.
The second player of Algerian descent and the second signing of the summer window was quickly announced by the Man City social media team just before the Dutchman.
Along with the signing of a new shotstopper, Marcus Betinelli from Chelsea – set to replace former reserve goalkeeper Scott Carson, who left the club after six seasons on Monday – that makes it four new incoming already.
Once again, not only do these latest additions to Pep Guardiola’s squad take their transfer total to over £300m on new talent in 2025, but there is still plenty of time for City to sign even more players with the summer window not closing until 7pm BST on 1 September.
Although the club have now acquired all of the players they have been most publicly linked with so far, it’s unclear whether their spending will continue or if the focus now turns to the Club World Cup getting underway this month and preparing the current squad for next season.
What do you make of Man City‘s latest recruits? Don’t forget, there have been some new arrivals in the backroom as well.
The beloved Billy Boston, the definition of a Wigan Warriors legend, has been given the first knighthood in rugby league history.
A Welsh hero as well, the former professional was a pioneering force for black players in the UK during the mid-20th century, representing both Wigan and Great Britain, with over 500 competitive appearances, primarily as a winger.
Having scored an unprecedented total of 478 tries in 487 games for the Warriors (571 in his entire career), he remains not just one of their greatest icons but one of the most influential rugby league players of all time.
With that in mind, while it may have been long overdue, Boston was made a knight prior to the King’s birthday and before the honours list was even officially announced.
🎖️🏉 Today at Buckingham Palace, Sir Billy Boston became the first sportsman to receive a knighthood for services to Rugby League.
The King presented Sir Billy – who is considered one of the best Rugby League players of all time, scoring a British record of 571 tries and 488… pic.twitter.com/QD8jTR7jPS
Now 90 years old, an exception was made for the Cardiff-born ex-pro due to growing concerns over his health; moreover, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer dubbed it a “historic wrong that a sport which is the backbone of so many communities has waited so long to receive this honour.”
Since it’s taken a total of 130 years for someone from the discipline, we tend to agree.
Boston was sadly diagnosed with vascular dementia back in 2016 at the age of 82 – a disease that is being increasingly studied across rugby, given the contact sport’s strong connection to conditions like CTE (Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy).
Head coach and fellow record-breaker, Matt Peet, wrote in a statement via the club: “Not just for Billy or Wigan, but for rugby league to get its first knighthood is great news. He’s an iconic figure and name in our Club, and he’s certainly part of the team at Wigan.
“He has a huge presence, and he’s just a really warm character. I’d just describe him as a gentleman, very humble, always up for a laugh, and he’s been very supportive since we’ve been in position.”
130 years of discrimination is over as Billy Boston becomes the first rugby league player to be knighted.
A Black Welshman who became a legend in Wigan, Billy is a pioneer as well as one of the greatest players of all time.
— Mike Meehall Wood (@MikeMeehallWood) June 9, 2025
Echoing his sentiment, Wigan Warriors‘ chairman, Chris Brookes, said, “I am absolutely delighted and so happy that Billy – and rugby league – has finally received the ultimate recognition his stellar career deserves”, with club CEO Kris Radlinski going on to to add: “He’s a cultural icon in rugby league.”
Unsurprisingly, WRL (the nation’s official governing body) joined the flood of individuals and organisations in celebrating the groundbreaking sporting great, writing: “The boy from Tiger Bay who became a Knight. A very proud day for Billy, his family and Wales Rugby League.”
Congratulations to a local legend who paved the way for generations of future rugby stars.
It’s been a special few days for the Greater Manchester side as their women’s team also made some history of their own this past weekend.
Danny Jones -
6th February 2024 
