When questions over his Liverpool contract were put to Ibrahima Konate, fresh from lifting the Premier League title on his birthday in May, the defender was vexxed. Having proven himself as an honest and open interviewee across his time as a Reds player, Konate showed why he had that reputation when he disputed reports that had emerged online a few months earlier.

"You know, I just want to say one thing: Everything you saw on social media is completely fake," the France international said. "I didn't even ask for something from the club. They made me an offer, and I replied to them with something, that is it.

"The rest (speculation) that I want to wait until the end...I want this, all of it is completely fake. And even the big journalists said in November I am very close to signing the deal. I was like: 'Ah, they have more information than me!?'"