Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu confirms Matthijs de Ligt pursuit

Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu has confirmed that the club are interested in signing Ajax centre-back Matthijs de Ligt.

The Netherlands international has long been considered a target for the Catalan giants, who are expected to face competition from a number of other big hitters - Juventus, Manchester City and Real Madrid among them - for his signature.

De Ligt produced another superb individual display in midweek to help Ajax knock Real out of the Champions League, which will only add to his burgeoning price tag.

Bartomeu admits that Barca are keen to snap up the teenage defender, with talks possibly being scheduled to take place with Ajax later this month.

"We have to talk about it from March, which is when we take the decisions, but his name is on the table, of course," he told SER Radio.

Ajax director of football Marc Overmars insists that De Ligt has yet to make a decision over his next career move.