Liverpool are set to escape punishment from the Premier League after allegedly tapping up Virgil van Dijk, Sky sources understand.
Southampton had asked the Premier League to investigate an alleged illegal approach for Van Dijk from Liverpool after reports emerged the player had told Jurgen Klopp he wanted to join the Merseyside club.
The Reds later ended their interest in signing the defender and publicly apologised to Southampton.
A preliminary investigation was launched by the Premier League but has stalled as there is insufficient evidence to support Southampton's claim.
Unless new information comes to light there will not be any more progress with the inquiry, effectively allowing Liverpool to avoid a sanction.
Strict rules govern transfers, with clubs able to negotiate terms with players only if they are out of contract or once a fee has been agreed with the seller. The laws also govern indirect approaches via an intermediary.
Southampton have consistently said they do not intend to sell Van Dijk, who joined from Celtic for £13m in September 2015 and signed a new six-year contract in 2016.
Liverpool, who were banned in April from signing Academy players from other English clubs for two years after an illegal approach for a 12-year-old attached to Stoke City, have signed several players from the Saints in recent seasons, with Adam Lallana, Dejan Lovren, Sadio Mane and Nathaniel Clyne all heading to Anfield.