def METHOD_NAME(version: str) -> str | None:
    if version == C.DEFAULT:  # use virtualenv's default
        return None
    elif _sys_executable_matches(version):  # virtualenv defaults to our exe
        return None
    if sys.platform == 'win32':  # pragma: no cover (windows)
        version_exec = _find_by_py_launcher(version)
        if version_exec:
            return version_exec
        # Try looking up by name
        version_exec = find_executable(version)
        if version_exec and version_exec != version:
            return version_exec
    # Otherwise assume it is a path
    return os.path.expanduser(version)