It's the kind of thing which only happens during the transfer window, the kind of detective work for which Liverpool fans are becoming famous for.

An innocuous post on Dejan Lovren's Instagram account. Or was it?

Lovren's picture showed the Reds defender in the changing room at Melwood, alongside Gini Wijnaldum and Emre Can . Smiles all round, and a wink emoji as the caption.

Beneath it, countless comments. Including from a couple of Liverpool teammates. “Kerrrchinnggg!!!” wrote Daniel Sturridge, while Alberto Moreno opted for some emojis of his own – a couple of money bags and a pair of fists bumping.

(Image: Michael Regan/Getty Images)

Many took it to signify that yes, after all this time, Emre Can was staying at the club. What else could the wink mean? Why else would Sturridge and Moreno comment about money? And just LOOK at those smiles!

Obvious, right?

A few hours later came the release of some comments from Can himself, an interview given minutes after Liverpool's barnstorming win over Manchester City on Sunday.

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Surely this would clear things up?

Not quite.

“My agent is looking after everything but I am here until the summer,” Can said.

“I haven’t signed anything (with Juventus) or anyone. I am talking with everyone.

(Image: Photo by Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

“Of course I am talking with Liverpool. I still have a contract here. It is an amazing club. What can I say? My agent does the rest.”

For now, as we understand it, there has been no change whatsoever in the situation. Can's future is no closer to being sorted. It remains, like a Charlie Adam penalty, up in the air.

Juventus are keen, other European clubs (and a couple from the Premier League) have expressed an interest, and Liverpool would love to keep him. Like Lloyd Christmas, they still feel there's a chance.

The dispute – if it can even be called that – centres not only on salary, but also Can's role in the team, and his desire for a release clause in any new contract.

Liverpool, understandably, are reluctant to set a precedent in that regard – a smart move considering the wild nature of the current transfer market; why give a player a £50m escape hatch when he could be valued at double that in a year's time? Had the Reds allowed that with Philippe Coutinho , for example, they'd have lost out big time.

Can, evidently, is not Coutinho, but there are plenty who would be sad to see him walk away from Anfield. Liverpool have spent nearly four years smoothing the German's rough edges, so to lose him for nothing would be a gut punch – not to mention one which would leave a gap in both team and squad.

Days like Sunday should help their case. Can was instrumental as City were swept under by an Anfield avalanche. When he plays as he did against Pep Guardiola's champions-elect, he's one of the best around. The trick has always been getting him to do so more often.

Jurgen Klopp believes he has seen huge progress in that respect, that Can's form is less susceptible to the peaks and troughs of his early campaigns on Merseyside. He believes the 24-year-old could be even better when Naby Keita joins the club in the summer.

(Image: (Photo by John Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images))

Can may feel differently of course, he may view Juventus or Bayern Munich or, gulp, Manchester United as a more attractive option. He'd be taking a huge risk if so.

Liverpool proved on Sunday that they are a team capable of big things, that they are heading in the right direction and quickly. It was, as Can himself said, a performance to make the rest of Europe pay attention.

If he is ready to bid farewell to all that, to the chance of success at a club which craves it so badly, then so be it.

But if you were placing bets on who would regret it more, it'd be the player – not Liverpool.