Hull and Swansea are interested in taking Matty James on loan in January but Leicester are reluctant to allow the midfielder a move to a Premier League rival.
Claudio Ranieri is considering using James over the next month as the club strive to pull clear of the relegation battle and enter the FA Cup, but is aware that after 19 months out the 25-year-old needs regular action.
The club are open to sanctioning a temporary departure in January but are understood to currently be ruling out the prospect of providing his services to other top-flight teams threatened by the drop.