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Manchester City to install glass tunnel as part of Etihad Stadium renovation

Manchester City fans will be able to watch their players prepare for games next season when a new glass tunnel is installed at the Etihad Stadium, sources have told ESPN FC.

The club is set to revamp the ground, which was built for the Commonwealth Games in 2002, moving the changing rooms to the first level of the main Colin Bell Stand.

And as part of the renovations, a new executive lounge will give a view of the City and away team players as they emerge from their dressing rooms before descending a flight of stairs to the pitch in full view.

Work has already begun on the construction, which is set to be open in time for next season.

The tunnel will be the first of its kind in the Premier League although there is a transparent entrance at the AT&T Stadium in the United States -- home to the NFL's Dallas Cowboys.

City fans will get the chance to grab a view of the players, which is normally only available to the TV cameras.

And it could be priceless if the Etihad gets its own tunnel bust-up such as the infamous 'Battle of the Buffet' at Old Trafford in 2004 when Arsenal and Manchester United players allegedly threw food at each other following an ill-tempered match.

At the end of last season there was an incident at the Etihad when Pablo Zabaleta and West Brom's James McClean clashed in the tunnel after the Republic of Ireland winger claimed he should have had a penalty.

As part of the renovations, supporters can dine in the new executive lounge before moving to padded seats close to Pep Guardiola's dug-out.

The Etihad is constantly being upgraded and last season the club added a 6,000-capacity third tier to the South Stand taking the overall capacity to 55,000.