Missguided is close to securing at least four potential new stores as it ramps up efforts to take its bricks and mortar proposition outside the M25.

Retail Week understands that the young fashion etailer is in advanced discussions to take space in Liverpool One, Intu Metrocentre in Newcastle, Bristol’s Cabot Circus and Meadowhall in Sheffield.

In a deal that was revealed by Retail Week, Missguided opened its first store at Westfield Stratford last November and is poised to open its second shop at Bluewater in Kent this summer.

But Missguided has bold ambitions for a nationwide store rollout and is now casting the net outside of the M25 as it seeks to grow its bricks-and-mortar footprint.

The business drafted in former Abercrombie & Fitch UK property boss Richard Collyer on a consultancy basis at the start of last year to help it identify locations.

Missguided also appointed its first ever chief customer officer, former British Gas digital director Arslan Sharif, at the end of November as it continues to grow the business.

Missguided declined to comment.

The Manchester-based business posted a 34% surge in sales to £117m in the year to March 2016, but EBITDA plunged 53% to £2.6m as it invested in marketing, technology, infrastructure and recruitment.