Manchester United 'cooled their interest in a move for Atletico Madrid right-back Kieran Trippier this month' amid uncertainty over his betting ban.
The England international was handed a 10-week worldwide football ban and fined £70,000 on December 23 after a Football Association panel found he broke betting rules.
Trippier was due to miss 12 matches for LaLiga leaders Atletico but the ban was then suspended by FIFA on January 3 pending an appeal.
That allowed Trippier to play and set up a goal for Angel Correa in Atletico's 2-0 win over Sevilla on Tuesday night as Atletico maintained a four-point cushion to rivals Real Madrid at the top with two games in hand.
But, according to the Manchester Evening News, the uncertainty over Trippier's ban led to United shelving plans to make a move for him this month.
Trippier is in the final 18 months of his Atletico contract and the prospect of a move to Old Trafford appeals to the Bury-born defender, who came through the youth ranks at Manchester City.
He would provide competition for Aaron Wan-Bissaka at right-back, offering more of an attacking threat to the youngster United paid £50million for in 2019.
Trippier has set up five goals for Atletico this season in LaLiga matches, while Wan-Bissaka has only one league assist to his credit so far.
Trippier, 30, has also been favoured by England manager Gareth Southgate in the position despite strong competitions from Trent Alexander-Arnold and Kyle Walker.
It means United may look elsewhere to bring in competition for Wan-Bissaka. Timothy Fosu-Mensah, who can also play in the position, is poised to sign for Bayer Leverkusen for £1.8m.
Teenager right-back Ethan Laird has joined MK Dons on loan and Brandon Williams could also leave this month on loan to a Premier League club.
Another right-sided defender, Diogo Dalot, is currently on a season-long loan to AC Milan.