Who’s this 18-year-old Dutch sensation that Manchester United are targeting? All you need to know

Scout Report – Justin Kluivert

Manchester United are reportedly interested in a summer move for Ajax sensation Justin Kluivert. The young star has been earning rave reviews for his performances as a winger and he has been quite effective for the Dutch giants. Jose Mourinho is understandably keen on boosting his attack forces and to that end, a deal for the 18-year-old does seem like a step in the right direction. Until now, Kluivert has done admirably well for Ajax this season and his performances have been encouraging, to say the least.

There will be competition to acquire his signature and United will have to step up their pursuit if they are to sign him. With that in mind, let’s take a closer look at Kluivert’s profile.

History

Born in 1999 in Amsterdam, Netherlands, Kluivert is the son of former Barcelona star Patrick Kluivert. He embarked on his youth career with FC Diemen and spent about a year with them, following which he joined Ajax’s youth setup in 2006. He gradually rose through the ranks and was soon known as one of their deadliest young attackers. Having made his senior team debut for the club last January, Kluivert has appeared quite frequently for them ever since. He has appeared 22 times across competitions for Ajax this season and has been one of their best players so far.

As far as his international career is concerned, Kluivert has appeared on several levels for the Dutch national teams. He started out by playing for the U15 team and is currently a member of the U21 squad.

Playing Style

Kluivert is quick, agile and is quite efficient at using his physicality to his advantage. He is extremely light and quick on his feet and exerts great control over the ball. He is an out-and-out attacker and his natural style is quite direct and lethal. Kluivert is also quite a strong dribbler and that, along with his other abilities, makes him a treat to watch. He is creative as well and can create chances even in the tiniest of spaces. The winger’s link-up play is also brilliant and he is known for maintaining fluidity in the field by making short yet accurate passes.

Kluivert’s Future

Kluivert is definitely earmarked for a bright future and if he continues to develop at this pace, there is no limit to what he can achieve in the next few years. Despite being so young, he has racked up a significant amount of experience and has appeared in the Champions League as well. At United, Mourinho currently has the likes of Anthony Martial and Marcus Rashford for the left-wing role and if the deal goes through, Kluivert will have to compete with them for a spot in the starting lineup. That said, given his talent, the player can go a long way.