How can United afford to build 'the world's greatest football stadium'?

JOSEPH TIMAN TACKLES THE QUESTION THAT KEEPS CROPPING UP AFTER ANNOUNCEMENT OVER 100,000-SEAT GROUND PLANS

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IT WAS at the London offices of Mancunian architect Norman Foster that United unveiled their bold vision to the world.

A new 100,000-seater stadium next to the current one at Old Trafford and the wholesale regeneration of the area around it, including more than 17,000 homes. The club claims the project could create 92,000 jobs and add an extra £7.3bn per year to the UK economy.

Flanked by Andy Burnham and other local leaders, the club then went to the French Riviera to sell its vision to international investors.

Sources close to the project say there was lots of interest in the plans at MIPIM, the annual global property summit in Cannes.

But one question keeps coming up - how can United, a club in £1bn of debt, afford to build 'the world's greatest football stadium'?

United estimate the cost of building the 'state-of-the-art' stadium and the associated club areas to be around £2bn.

The government has indicated its support for the scheme, but has ruled out putting taxpayers' money towards the stadium itself.

Instead, the club says public cash could help 'enable' the wider regeneration - which could in turn help finance the club's ambitions.

Meanwhile, Mr Burnham is lobbying the government to help free up land next to the current stadium by relocating a freight terminal elsewhere - a move which he says would require around £200m to £300m of funding but would bring big benefits to the North West.

There are lots of moving parts to this major project that could be truly transformational for the region. So, could it really happen?

What's the plan?

The new 100,000-seat stadium promises to bring fans 'closer than ever' to the pitch, with a 'huge roar' cultivated by the acoustics.