Ibrahima Konate 'completely fake' claim lingers as Liverpool team-mate comments telling

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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. 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.

I was like: 'Ah, they have more information than me!?'"READ MORE: Steve Parish explains real reason Marc Guehi Liverpool transfer collapsed - 'Based on advice'READ MORE: Arne Slot Liverpool coaching staff have just got what they need after 'unforgiving' reminderThe nature of the joyous afternoon, where Liverpool lifted their 20th title in front of over 60,000 supporters, meant that Konate's words were delivered with more of a wry smile than any real frustration but the centre-back was clearly irked at the time by the erroneous claims.Nearly five months on, however, the Reds man remains in the same spot he was in on his 26th birthday, tethered to the terms he signed in 2021, when he joined from RB Leipzig and facing an increasingly uncertain future.Cody Gakpo recently revealed after signing a new contract at the club that negotiations with his SEG representatives and the club took around a year to formalise before they were signed and sealed.For a new contract for someone who is happy, settled and viewed as an important part of the squad, to take up to a year revealed a lot about why these sorts of agreements are not simply reached overnight.That, inadvertently, perhaps explains why there is no public progress on Konate's deal as rumours of Real Madrid interest continue to be published.It's to the enormous credit of Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk that their own respective sagas were never once used to explain a perceived dip in form for either themselves or the team as a whole last season.With both talismen going through to April before two-year extensions were penned, it would have been the easiest analysis point in the world to suggest a drop in output was because of the uncertainty over their long-term futures.Neither allowed that to happen as Liverpool swept to the Premier League title by 10 points, officially wrapping it up with a month and four games to spare.This time around, though, Konate is not enjoying the same luxury and his difficulties this season have been highlighted in recent days on the back of three successive defeats.A difficult opening night in the 4-2 win over Bournemouth in August was followed up by a shaky second half at Newcastle United in that memorable 3-2 victory later that month.The France international responded to those questions with an excellent showing in the 1-0 win against Arsenal prior to the September international break.In general, though, Konate is not near the levels he was at last term alongside Van Dijk. I never said it to him but I have said in interviews, I just want to be better than him one day.

That's why I work hard, to reach this level one day."Both Konate and Liverpool find themselves in a situation where they are seemingly casting a wandering eye elsewhere. The defender's links to Real Madrid have been well established but it was the Reds who would have signed £35m Marc Guehi at the start of September had the plug not been pulled by Crystal Palace.Guehi would not necessarily have taken Konate's place in the team, not immediately at least, but the England international would have provided stronger competition than he currently faces in the form of versatile squad player Joe Gomez, who hasn't played centre-half in the Premier League since December of last year.A lull on the pitch is likely more complex than the ongoing impasse over his future off it, but a retweet of football statistics account Squawka last month about his impressive aerial prowess in the Merseyside derby win over Everton was more than a hint that Konate, like so many elite-level footballers in their 20s, are tuned in to what is being said about them online.Such attention to the details online is what moved the Paris-born defender to suggest that "everything you see on social media is completely fake" in May.Five months on, however, we are no nearer to finding out what the truth is over his Liverpool future, meaning Konate might have to get used to the odd inaccurate claim or two online before we find out.