Manchester City is reportedly set to announce plans to expand the capacity of their historic Etihad stadium by 6,000 in a 50 million-pound investment, even as they continue negotiations to bring in Malaga coach Manuel Pellegrini as a replacement for the sacked Roberto Mancini.
Although Pellegrini's appointment is not a done deal, City is confident that the Chilean will join them, in view of which they are preparing to build on a high volume of sell-outs at the Etihad by adding a third tier to their South Stand and increasing the capacity to 54,000, the Independent reports.
The report said that with the new capacity, City will move ahead Newcastle and Sunderland to command the third highest capacity in the Premier League, after Manchester United and Arsenal.
The report further said that for the expansion, City's studies have included an analysis of lifting off the roof and creating an entire new tier to boost capacity to over 70,000, which will largely increase match-day income, although increasing the stadium bit by bit is considered the best way to accommodate new capacity.
The report also mentioned that the plans, scheduled to be completed in 2015, will also include lower-priced season tickets costing under 300 pounds, adding that the reorganisation of the ground will also see away fans moved - something City fans have been asking for over a number of years.
The Etihad, which was designed for the 2002 Commonwealth Games, has a capacity of 47,805 and the extra tier will take it well above Liverpool and Chelsea, other clubs who desperately need a way of increasing match-day revenues but do not have the room to expand that City enjoy, the report added.