Manchester United have no plans to try and sign Nathaniel Clyne, sources told ESPN FC, leaving Liverpool as the front-runners to buy the England right-back.
Liverpool have had a £10 million bid for the 24-year-old rejected by Southampton.
And while Clyne has been on United's radar and was expected to be a target for Louis van Gaal, sources said the defender is no longer under consideration.
Clyne's current contract expires in 2016 and Southampton have offered him a new deal and grown more optimistic about their chances of keeping the former Crystal Palace player.
But while manager Ronald Koeman said on Sunday that he hoped a deal would be tied up this week, Clyne is yet to re-sign, just as other previous deadlines to agree a new contract were missed.
Liverpool, who signed three players from Southampton last summer, are looking for a right-back with Glen Johnson set to leave Anfield when his contract expires and the injured Jon Flanagan ruled out for nine months.
With Javier Manquillo failing to make an impact, midfielder Emre Can ended the season at right-back and Liverpool, who also hope to sign midfielder James Milner and striker Danny Ings, have targets Clyne.
However, Clyne said last month that he wanted to play in the Champions League, while Liverpool can only offer Europa League football.
United's decision not to pursue Clyne at the moment could pave the way for an approach to Daniel Alves, whose contract expires next month and who has admitted he could leave Barcelona.
Van Gaal has used winger Antonio Valencia in the back four for most of the season, but is likely to try and recruit a specialist right-back, with the out-of-favour Rafael da Silva a potential departure from Old Trafford.