Manchester United have been told that they must wait until the summer to sign Athletic Bilbao's Aymeric Laporte, according to reports.
The centre-back has been heavily linked with a move to Old Trafford this season, and he is expected to receive his first call-up to the French national team in March.
The Daily Star says that United were prepared to pay £15m to sign the 20-year-old in this window, but the Basque club have told Louis van Gaal that they will refuse to listen to any offers until the summer.
Laporte is said to have a £20m buy-out clause in his contract, and Bilbao will not accept anything below that figure.
Laporte has played 23 times for Bilbao so far this season.
