Wesley Fofana was not "in the right frame of mind" to play for Leicester City in the 2-1 defeat by Southampton, says boss Brendan Rodgers.
The 21-year-old French defender, who signed a new deal with the club until 2027 in March, is believed to want to join Chelsea.
He watched from the stands as his side lost their second game in a row.
"He's just a young player who is not quite in the right frame of mind at the moment to play," said Rodgers.
"There's a lot going on behind the scenes, which I understand. It's a difficult moment for him. He's a good kid. He's been great for us while he's been here."
