I would say your source is not very well placed at all.
Before they would ask permission to use the Etihad they would need plans being drawn up and submitting to Trafford Council for their new ground/development. These plans would of course have to be passed by T.C. and no doubt the public would have a chance to object.
They haven't done that so is your well placed source saying the development will all be internal, no existing external structure would be expanded ? Not much of a development is it and it certainly wouldn't take 2 years.I assume you well placed source is a rag and the place he is welled in is the Bishops Blaize.