Polish goalkeeper Grzegorz Szamotulski is unlikely to join Hibernian after failing to agree a deal with the Easter Road side.
The 32-year-old had been training with the club and played in a closed-doors game last week as manager Mixu Paatelainen weighed up a move.
And despite admitting a goalkeeper is a priority, the Finn does not expect that void to filled by Szamotulski.
"He will not be joining us, in the meantime anyway," Paatelainen said.
"He has left and gone back to Poland.
"He did well in training with us here but unfortunately we could not agree a contract, so the quest goes on."
Szamotulski was a big hit during a six-month spell at Dundee United last season as cover for compatriot and friend Lucasz Zaluska.
But with Zaluska signing a pre-contract agreement with Celtic, Szamotulski has now been linked with a return to Tannadice.
The former Poland international left United to join Preston under freedom of contract last February.
However, a knee injury scuppered his Deepdale career and he moved to Israeli side FC Ashdod in August.
Having played played just 10 matches in Israel, he left in November and is now a free agent.
Szamotulski, who has 13 caps for his country, played 23 times for the Tangerines after joining from Austria's Sturm Graz.
His performances for United led to interest from a number of clubs, including Rangers.
But the former Legia Warsaw keeper elected to try his luck in the English Championship only for injury to derail his career.
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