LIVERPOOL -- Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers said the club have never had an offer from Napoli -- or anyone else -- for Lucas Leiva.
The midfielder was reportedly becoming disillusioned with life at Anfield after starting only two of the Reds' opening 12 Premier League games.
As recently as Oct. 23, he was quoted by Radio Marca as saying he would have to move in order to get more game time.
But the 27-year-old has been restored to the starting lineup as Rodgers adopts a more robust style of play in an attempt to improve his side's form.
Lucas' abilities as a defensive midfielder have given Liverpool's some much-needed extra steel, which has contributed to successive league wins over Stoke and Leicester.
#INSERT type:image caption:Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers said the club have never had an offer from Napoli, or anyone else, for Lucas Leiva. END#
The Brazil international was heavily linked with a summer move to Napoli -- managed by former Reds boss Rafa Benitez.
And before Lucas was restored to the Reds' Premier League starting lineup, there were reports that a deal could happen in January.
But Rodgers insisted that was never a possibility, saying: "There's always the potential that anyone can leave the football club, not just Lucas.
"We never had any offers for him, but he was always a player who was an important part of our squad. He's got really good experience, he's a Brazil international."
Lucas' chances have been restricted by injuries and by Rodgers' decision last season to use captain Steven Gerrard in a deeper midfield role as a playmaker.
But with Liverpool's attacking threat reduced this season by the sale of Luis Suarez to Barcelona and three injuries to Daniel Sturridge, the manager has seen a need to rethink his tactics.
Rodgers said: "Last year, unfortunately for Lucas, we put Stevie in that playmaking role, because of the players we had at the top end of the field, so it wasn't so much a defensive midfield player we needed. I needed someone to initiate the attacks.
"In the last few games, we've gone to a different type of structure, and that involves having a defensive midfield player in there.
"He's offered that protection and done extremely well. So he's in a good moment, playing very well, and long may it continue."
Rodgers, meanwhile, has said that Sturridge is having specialist treatment away from the club's Melwood training base in a bid to sort out his injury problems.
The striker, who hit 21 league goals for Liverpool last season, has not played for three months after suffering two thigh injuries and a calf problem, and is expected to be out until January.
Rodgers said: "He's gone away to get some work in, some specific work, with some of our staff. He's coming along well."
The manager added that contract talks with captain Gerrard, vice-captain Jordan Henderson and right-back Glen Johnson were ongoing.