Justin Kluivert attracting interest from Manchester Utd manager Jose Mourinho

It has been reported that Old Trafford boss Jose Mourinho has added Justin Kluivert to his shopping list.

The Netherlands under-21 international forms part of a shortlist of transfer options.

The Ajax forward joins Thomas Lemar, Malcom and Christian Pulisic as options to add a natural winger to Mourinho’s squad.

The son of retired Netherlands striker Patrick, the 18-year-old Kluivert broke into Ajax’s first team in January. With just a season and half remaining on a contract that the Eredivisie club have struggled to lengthen and improve, Kluivert would be a relatively low-cost upgrade for United.

Mourinho’s admiration for the player is long-standing with the Old Trafford manager making a point of personally complimenting Kluivert on his debut campaign in the immediate aftermath of United’s Europa League Final victory over Ajax in May.

A budget in the region of €90 million is expected to be made available to Mourinho to improve a squad that has won 13 of 18 Premier League fixtures, yet lies 11 points adrift of record setting leaders Manchester City.

Of the other wingers under consideration, Lemar would be the most expensive – even as much as €95m. In summer he had attracted a lot of interest from Arsenal and Liverpool.

The left-footed Malcom is comfortable playing anywhere across the second line of attack, scoring seven goals and being credited with four assists in 18 Ligue 1 appearances for Girondins Bordeaux this season. He is expected to cost at least €30m.

Pulisic’s status as the rising star of the United States national team is of considerable commercial appeal to United. The 19year-old is in his third Bunesliga season with Borussia Dortmund and has considerable Champions League experience, but would be more expensive to recruit than Kluivert or Malcom and is right-footed.

Christian Pulisic would be a good brand ambassador for United.

Meanwhile, Mourinho has opened the door for underutilised and performing players to leave United. It is understood that offers would be considered for Luke Shaw, Matteo Darmian, Daley Blind and Henrikh Mikhitaryan, whose form has declined in recent months.