Real Madrid are reportedly set to opt against pursuing Espanyol defender Mario Hermoso in the January transfer window.
According to a report from earlier in the campaign from Marca's Cristina Navarro and Pablo Polo, Los Blancos were ready to activate a buyback clause in the centre-back's contract with the Catalan club worth €7.5 million (£6.5 million) in the midseason window.
However, according to Eduardo Redondo of Marca, the European champions' interest in signing their former player has cooled, with the Madrid outfit said to have been impressed by the recent displays turned in by Javi Sanchez.