Manchester United say they are still hopeful of buying the land needed to build a new stadium – including the ‘circus tent’ canopy.
Talks between the club and local landowners over the site behind Old Trafford stadium which is presently used as a freight terminal are yet to reach a positive conclusion.
United have drawn up different plans but minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe still has his sights set on the grand scheme he unveiled in London last year.
The stadium situation was raised at last month’s Fans Forum meeting, at which club officials attempted to calm the situation.
“While Manchester United owns a significant portion of land around Old Trafford, it is not all in a single, continuous block,” the club said.
“To accommodate the scale of the proposed new stadium – including a canopy – and to avoid disruption to the existing stadium during construction, we are working to secure additional land.
“We’ve been engaged in constructive discussions with neighbouring landholders and are optimistic about reaching mutually agreeable terms in the coming months.”