Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe has opened up about Anthony Gordon's recent absence from the starting lineup, confirming that the uncertainty surrounding the winger's future has played a role in his team selections. With a summer transfer now looking increasingly likely, the speculation is heating up at St. James' Park.

"When you get to this stage of the season, part of what we will be doing is looking to next year. So, yeah, there are doubts about Gordon's future," Howe admitted. "Anthony's just come back from injury. The team has played well in his absence, and he's not playing with a partial view to the future, yes. We need to give players opportunities, we need to try things looking toward the future and next season. There are discussions that are potentially happening on his future, but not with me."

The 23-year-old's situation has caught the attention of several top clubs across Europe. According to Luke Edwards of The Telegraph, Bayern Munich have already made an initial approach to Newcastle, asking about a potential price tag for the England youth international. The Magpies are reportedly holding out for around £80 million, while Bayern have indicated they'd be willing to pay approximately £61 million. Talks have been described as amicable so far, but Newcastle are standing firm on their valuation.

Gordon's camp has reportedly been told he'll be allowed to leave, but only on terms that suit the club. The player himself has handled the situation professionally, keeping his head down and focusing on his recovery from injury. However, the writing may be on the wall for his time on Tyneside.

While Bayern Munich appear to be leading the chase, Arsenal are also monitoring the situation closely. The Gunners have had Gordon on their shortlist for some time now. Back in April, Sami Mokbel of the BBC reported that the winger is "rated highly" by Arsenal, with the club identifying a new left-winger as a priority this summer. If the North London side plans to rival Bayern for his signature, they've kept their cards close to their chest so far—but that could change quickly if a deal with the German giants starts to look imminent.

For now, Arsenal's focus remains firmly on the pitch. With the Premier League title race going down to the wire and the Champions League final just around the corner, the summer transfer window will take center stage once the trophies are handed out. Whether Gordon will be wearing red and white or red and blue next season remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: this transfer saga is far from over.