Manchester United has received support from the British government for the club’s project to regenerate the area around its Old Trafford stadium. Rachel Reeves, Britain’s Treasury chief, said in a statement she was championing the Old Trafford project as “a shining example” of the government’s plans to promote economic growth.

Options to increase capacity to 87,000 at the existing stadium or build a new ground which could hold 100,000 fans are on the table.

The UK Government has backed plans to regenerate the area around Old Trafford, regardless of whether Manchester United decide to build a new 100,000-seater stadium