Old Trafford 'to be demolished and turned into flats' as Man United edge closer to new stadium - Stefan Borson

Old Trafford is far more likely to be demolished than be used as a new source of income for Manchester United.

That is according to former Manchester City financial adviser Stefan Borson, who exclusively told Football Insider that Manchester could soon have its own version of the Highbury flats.

This comes after the Red Devils revealed the proposed location for the club's new 100,000-seater stadium within the surrounding area’s regeneration.

United announced last month that 25 acres of land had been acquired in a huge step towards the new stadium, which will now sit between Wharfside Way, Europa Way and John Gilbert Way.

Understandably, this has sparked questions over the future of Old Trafford, though it is reported that no decisions have been made just yet.

Multiple ideas have been floated amongst the fans, but the most likely outcome appears to be no more Old Trafford once Man United move.

Old Trafford will be too expensive to restore

Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, Borson explained that investment back into Old Trafford may prove to be too expensive, especially when compared to knocking it down.

"I can't see that there's any alternative use of a 74,000 stadium. The whole point is that it's in need of some serious investment," he said.

"So, I don't think that there's much prospect of them using it for something. They might do something similar to the Highbury residential development. That's possible.

"They could build something around what was Old Trafford with some luxury flats, but Trafford is not Islington.

"The average sale price of a flat in that location is very different from the average selling price of a flat in Islington, and clearly, it would be very expensive to build the properties.

"The build cost is not dissimilar, but the sale price is dissimilar, and therefore the profitability of the whole project is totally different.

"I don't see much real prospect. If they build the new Old Trafford, I don't see much option but to knock down the existing Old Trafford and put something in its place, such as residential housing."

How do Man United fans feel about leaving Old Trafford?

It has certainly been interesting to see the discussion around United's stadium plans, with an increasing number of fans not wanting to leave.

Clubs from all over Europe continue to restore their stadiums rather than knock them down altogether, and that's how these fans feel about Old Trafford.

One supporter feels that the walls hold "too many memories," which will be overlooked and forgotten about should the new plans go ahead.

It is an entirely understandable point of view, which is likely why no decisions have yet been made on the future of Old Trafford.