Danks targeted as United weigh backroom shake-up amid warnings of two more years of struggle

Manchester United are weighing up a move to strengthen Michael Carrick’s backroom staff by appointing Bayern Munich assistant Aaron Danks, as the club’s hierarchy prepares for crunch talks over the head coach’s future during the international break.

Carrick survived into the two-week hiatus despite United sitting 18th in the Premier League after their worst-ever start to a season. A 4-4 draw at home to Aston Villa on Sunday — salvaged only by Patrick Dorgu’s header in the 96th minute — did little to ease the pressure on the 45-year-old, whose position remains uncertain.

According to TEAMtalk, director of football Jason Wilcox is set to lead discussions at Carrington this week, with Carrick’s future a central agenda item. One option under consideration is bringing in Danks, 43, who currently serves as a key member of Vincent Kompany’s staff in Germany. Danks has a prior working relationship with Carrick, having served under him at Middlesbrough, and his broader coaching career has included stints at Anderlecht and Aston Villa under Dean Smith and Steven Gerrard.

The potential backroom addition comes as a broader picture of instability surrounds the club. An unnamed former Premier League executive has told ESPN that United supporters should brace for continued suffering under majority shareholder Sir Jim Ratcliffe, who is approaching three years since acquiring his stake in the club.

“I don’t think Jim listens to many people,” the executive said. “In my experience, it takes about five years for owners to learn their lessons and take some responsibility. That’s when humility starts to set in.”

The comments reflect a growing sense of frustration among supporters who had hoped Ratcliffe’s arrival would accelerate a rebuild at Old Trafford. Instead, United have continued to struggle, with the 4-4 draw against Villa — a game in which they twice surrendered two-goal leads — emblematic of the defensive and structural problems that have plagued the club this season.

Whether Carrick remains in charge beyond the international break, and whether Danks arrives to support him, could define the trajectory of United’s season in the weeks ahead.