• Premier League

United winger Zaha could request transfer - report

Wilfried Zaha has not yet played a league game for Manchester United © Getty Images

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Wilfried Zaha may consider handing in a transfer request at Manchester United as relationships between the club and winger continue to break down over a proposed loan move, according to a report in the Mail on Sunday.

The newspaper indicates a series of frenzied phone calls took place between the player's representatives and United chief executive Ed Woodward over Zaha's future.

Zaha looked set for a loan move to fellow Premier League outfit Cardiff City in order to gain some much-needed match time, but negotiations seemingly broke down on Thursday.

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According to the newspaper, Cardiff manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was of the opinion he had agreed a deal in principle on Thursday to borrow Zaha as the Bluebirds look to stave off the threat of relegation.

However, the South Wales club were then informed by Woodward that Zaha would no longer be available during the January transfer window, due to injuries fellow United wingers Nani and Ashley Young.

A possibility of a loan move is still in the frame for Zaha, but only if Young or Nani recover from their respected injuries. However, Moyes used his Friday pre-match press conference to deny reports of a bust-up with Zaha, maintaining the winger had every chance of featuring against Chelsea.

"Wilfried Zaha has a chance," Moyes said. "I have told him that if I can't get him the games I will put him out on loan. But he can't go out while we have Ashley and Nani injured and I would be surprised if anyone thought that was a possibility."

"I had a 30 seconds chat on the training pitch today and we were talking away. So there was nothing like that.I have indicated to the boy [that he can go on loan when others get fit]. But he is a Manchester United player, that's what he is."

Zaha has yet to start a league game for United since his £15 million move from Crystal Palace in January last year. It is also reported he has not travelled for Sunday's game at Stamford Bridge, opting to stay at the club and train instead.

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