The Sun: Worried about injuries + Africa Cup of Nations, Manchester United is preparing to prevent Menu and Zirkzee from leaving the team in the winter window

October 28th, "The Sun" reported that although Zirkzee and Menu are dissatisfied with their playing time, Manchester United is expected to prevent them from leaving the team in the winter window.

The media pointed out that Manchester United is prepared to reject Menu and Zirkzee's request to leave the team, and the two will be entrusted with important tasks during the winter window. Manchester United are preparing to reject requests to leave players in the January transfer window amid expectations of squad shortages. Kobe Menu and Joshua Zirkzee have limited minutes this season, but both will have key roles around Christmas.

Manchester United will lose important offensive players Brian Mbeumo and Amad in December, and they are almost certain to represent their respective national teams in the African Cup of Nations. Full-back Mazraoui is also expected to feature for hosts Morocco.

This African Cup of Nations will start before Christmas, and Mbemo and Ahmed are likely to play on behalf of Cameroon and Cote d'Ivoire on Christmas Eve. The group stage will last until New Year's Eve, with the final scheduled for January 18. The winter transfer window closes at 7pm on February 2.

Manchester United successfully postponed Andre Onana's participation in the last Africa Cup of Nations - even though the tournament only started in mid-January. Since the competition cycle overlapped with Manchester United's winter break and the Cameroon team was eliminated in the round of sixteen, goalkeeper Onana only missed one club game.

The possible absence of top scorer Mbemo, Ahmad and Mazrawi will deprive Manchester United of three important options on the right. Mbemo has been in hot form since his £65 million transfer from Brentford, scoring 5 goals. The 26-year-old works well with Ahmed, sharing a position on the right in coach Ruben Amorim's 3-4-2-1 formation.

The 21-year-old Menu has not started in the Premier League since May. His only start this season was the League Cup loss to fourth-tier team Grimsby in August. Manchester United rejected midfielder Menu's request to leave the team on loan before the summer window closed. However, he is still the only player among the team's five midfielders who has not made a league debut.

Zirkzee, a failed signing worth 36.5 million pounds, has only played 5 times for a total of 90 minutes this season. The last time he started for Manchester United was back in April. The 24-year-old suffered a hamstring injury six months ago and missed the entire pre-season due to the injury, but his chances of getting a regular appearance at Manchester United are still slim.

Amorim does not believe that Zirkzee is a pure center. In 4 of the 9 league games available to Zirkzee this season, he chose the frontless trident composed of Mbemo, Mateusz Cunha and Mason Mount. Summer transfer new signing Benjamin Sheshko is Manchester United's first choice center.

Zirkzee was used as one of two attacking midfielders before getting injured in the second half of last season. Menu has started four times as an attacking midfielder under Amorim and is an alternative to fill the vacancies of Mbemo and Amad.

When asked about the possibility of Menu and Zirkzee leaving the team in January, Amorim said: "I know that the club will always be full of rumors. The media needs news, the players are eager to play, and the World Cup is approaching. Agents will continue to listen to the players' opinions - I understand these, but they are our players, and we need all employees to work together to achieve a successful season."

Manchester United deliberately streamlined the lineup after missing the European Cup this season. Amorim currently uses a 25-man squad, but Lisandro Martinez has yet to return to training due to an anterior cruciate ligament injury he suffered nine months ago.

Malaysia returned to the first-team training squad last month, but the possibility of playing for the club again is extremely low. 17-year-old forward Obi Martin mainly trains with the youth training echelon, while youth training left back Diego Leon has yet to make his debut.