Manchester United have joined the battle to sign Dutch wonderkid Frenkie de Jong, according to reports in England.

Tottenham and Barcelona have been heavily linked with the Ajax defender in recent months but it appears the Manchester club are now also interested in the player.

De Jong was reportedly watched by United during the most recent international break. The 21-year-old had been on the club’s radar for a while, but his performance for the Netherlands against France in the Nations League earlier this month convinced them that the Dutchman should be signed.

The defender can play in a number of positions, and while he has been picked as a centre-back, his most impressive displays have been in central midfield.

Last season, he made five assists in just two games in the wins against NAC Breda and Roda JC last November. Straight after those games, however, he was moved back into a defensive role.

He again started this campaign at centre-half, but he has played the last eight games in all competitions in the heart of Ajax’s midfield, with the Dutch side having made an unbeaten start to the season.