Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu has confirmed that the Spanish champions are looking at the prospect of signing Matthijs de Ligt from Ajax at the end of the season. The Netherlands international has improved leaps and bounds since graduating through the youth system at the Amsterdam club and he has been tipped for a big-money move during the summer.

Speaking to RKB, Bartomeu acknowledged that De Ligt is one of the players who are being tracked by the club with a view to the summer transfer window after watching him in close quarters in the past few months. He added that the club have yet to register any official approach and there is nothing to say about the transfer proceedings in regards to the teenage centre-back.

“We have followed De Ligt for a while. It’s true he’s a player we like, but Barça also have other important players in the squad. We will look at more things from March or April. We’re delighted to watch him play and admire him, but there’s nothing more at the moment.” he was quoted as saying by the Catalan radio station.

Barcelona have already landed the signature of De Ligt’s teammate Frenkie de Jong from Ajax after finalising a £65m deal for the midfielder, who will be joining the squad during the summer. And it now appears that they could push for another deal from the Capital outfit, though they can expect to pay up a similar price tag for De Ligt, who is also on the radar of Manchester City.

Elsewhere, Ajax goalkeeper Andre Onana has dropped a massive hint about De Ligt’s next move after confirming that the Dutchman has the ambition of reuniting with De Jong at the Camp Nou. De Ligt has made nearly 100 appearances for Ajax since making his debut at the age of 16.