Leicester City have shown Nampalys Mendy "a great lack of respect" by trying to sell him, the midfielder's advisor has said.
Mendy, 25, only joined the Premier League outfit from Nice last summer, but a troublesome ankle injury early in the season ruined his campaign, limiting him to just four top-flight games and only 10 appearances in all competitions.
Bordeaux, St Etienne and Nantes, as well as his former club Nice, are all interested in bringing Mendy back to France on loan, with Leicester wanting a permanent move.
"It's a great lack of respect towards the player and the man to want to sell him," Mendy's advisor, Yacine Ayad, is reported as saying by L'Equipe. "Leicester want a transfer, but right now, that's not going to happen.
"If the club don't take the decision to loan him out so that he gets back the rhythm, the fun, the feelings, and can exploit his full potential again, it's clear he'll stay at Leicester.
"From our side, we don't understand that Leicester are looking to sell a player they bought for €16 million and who was injured during a league game. It's incomprehensible. Leicester have seven midfielders for two positions, so it's preferable for everyone that Papy goes out on loan so that he can show the full extent of his talent again."
After emerging at Monaco, Mendy established a fine reputation at Nice where he missed just four league games in the three seasons prior to his departure for England.
He has no shortage of suitors and is keeping his options open, with the opportunity of working with Bordeaux boss Jocelyn Gourvennec particularly attractive.
"With regard to Nantes, we have been clear and honest since the start: we won't go there," Ayad said. "So we're talking to the other clubs. At St Etienne, we don't know the new coach, but we know the club's history and what it represents.
"At Nice, the club and the fans know Papy very well, because he played there for three seasons. And how can you turn down Bordeaux, currently coached by the best French coach in Ligue 1?
"The ball is now in Leicester's court. We're talking football. We're only interested in football. Papy only has one desire: to enjoy it again and flourish."