Manchester United Transfer News: Edwin van der Sar Hints at Justin Kluivert Exit

Ajax chief executive officer and former Manchester United goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar has admitted Justin Kluivert could leave Amsterdam. Kluivert, who is a rumoured transfer target for the Red Devils, is being pushed toward the exit door by his agent Mino Raiola, according to Van Der Sar.

The man who won the UEFA Champions League with United in 2008 told Dutch source Ziggo Sport (h/t Metro) Kluivert is unlikely to renew his deal with Ajax: "We have been talking for 10 months now [about a renewal], and we are a bit done with it all now. He is difficult to keep. His agent [Raiola] pushes him towards the exit, which is a shame."

United will likely welcome Van Der Sar's words. Metro noted how United manager Jose Mourinho is enamoured with Kluivert's ability.

Peter Dejong/Associated Press

Raiola's presence would also be a boost for the Red Devils if any deal were to materialise. Raiola was the agent behind Paul Pogba's then-world-record return to Old Trafford in 2016.

It was Raiola who also helped United sign Henrikh Mkhitaryan the same summer. While Mkhitaryan has since left the club, Raiola played his part in helping the Armenia international join Arsenal while Alexis Sanchez went the other way to become a United player.

Mourinho may be able to make room for Kluivert, despite the presence of Sanchez. Still just 19, the son of former Ajax and Barcelona striker Patrick Kluivert possesses the pace, vision, technique and versatility to be a match-winner in the final third for any club.

VALERY HACHE/Getty Images

He's scored 11 goals and provided five assists in all competitions for Ajax this season, after helping the Eredivisie club reach the UEFA Europa League final in the previous campaign. Mourinho's side beat Kluivert and Co., but the United chief hasn't always been impressed with his attacking options in 2018.

Mourinho gave rare starts to Anthony Martial and Marcus Rashford for the 1-0 defeat away to Brighton & Hove Albion in the Premier League on Friday.

Afterwards, the manager appeared to take aim at his under-performing forwards by defending his decision to often start big-money summer signing Romelu Lukaku, per BBC Sport: "For 10 months I get asked, 'Why always Lukaku? Why always Lukaku? Why always this player?' 'That guy doesn't have a chance to start, the other one is on the bench.' You know why now."

United may have doubts about Rashford and Martial, but the club has been heavily linked with Kluivert recently. The Daily Mirror's Darren Lewis reported Van Der Sar was trying to persuade Kluivert to resist United's advances and continue his development in Amsterdam.

Soccrates Images/Getty Images

Yet Van Der Sar now sounds as though his hopes won't be realised, giving Kluivert's suitors a boost ahead of the summer window.

Adding Kluivert alongside Sanchez, Lukaku and the improving Jesse Lingard would give United a gifted and flexible quartet of attackers capable of adding the extra firepower Mourinho's team needs to mount a more sustained title challenge next term.