Wilfried Zaha
Zaha not on the brink of Cardiff move.

Cardiff City manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has played down suggestions the club are on the brink of securing a loan move for Manchester United winger Wilfried Zaha.

The immediate future of the former Crystal Palace starlet remains uncertain; despite only making two Premier League appearances for the club David Moyes has indicated he could keep the 20-year-old at Old Trafford for the second half of the season rather than sanction a loan move.

He has had no shortage of suitors with his former club Palace and Newcastle United keen to enlist his services, but Cardiff have emerged as a likely destination this week.

Reports have suggested Zaha had travelled to the Welsh capital to undergo a medical ahead of his move on Wednesday, but Solskjaer has dismissed such speculation.

When asked of Zaha's imminent arrival, the Cardiff boss told reporters via Inside Futbol: "You have to ask Manchester United. He is a Manchester United player. I cannot comment about those who are not Cardiff players."

Zaha was handed a starting role in the Community Shield victory over Wigan Athletic last August, but has not imposed himself upon David Moyes' first team plans since then.

But despite his troubles following his move from Selhurst Park, his former manager Dougie Freedman has little doubt that the Londoner will establish himself in Manchester, insisting the pressure the youngster finds himself under will eventually be the making of him.

'It's funny how things have worked out with the timing of his move," Freedman, who oversaw Zaha's introduction to the Palace first team, told the Mail. "I have always been a huge admirer of Wilfried but have never been on the opposite side to him before.

"It will have been frustrating for him at United so far because all he has ever known in his career from 16 has been first-team football. All he really understands is playing on Saturday, recovering and being ready for the next game.

"So leaving London to join a huge club like United and finding opportunities scarce will not have been easy for him. It will have been a big test for him, but he is a strong character, and I am certain he will come through it.

"I'm still convinced it was the right move. When a club like United come knocking you can't turn them down. It's just that they've had a difficult time, and I imagine David Moyes feels it would not be ideal to throw two youngsters in, with another (Adnan Januzaj) on the other wing.

"But there is no doubt he will be a success at United. A lot of young players there will have worked their way up the ranks and had to be patient, but Wilf has never had to face that."