Eddie Howe makes Anthony Gordon revelation amid Arsenal transfer links

 Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe has dropped the strongest indication yet regarding Anthony Gordon's future amid speculation linking him with Arsenal. The winger has caught the attention of the Gunners in recent weeks, with his situation at St. James' Park remaining unclear.

It's understood that Arsenal's interest is genuine, with the possibility that the club bolsters their attacking options this summer despite the £100million-plus outlay on Viktor Gyokeres and Noni Madueke. Gyokeres endured a sluggish start to the campaign but has hit his stride in the second half, netting 21 goals across all competitions, while Madueke has registered just seven.

Bayern Munich have also been touted as potential suitors for the England international, but Newcastle will not be parting with him cheaply. With a 15% sell-on clause owed to Everton, the club are anticipated to demand full market value, having shelled out £45million for him back in 2023.

However, Gordon's status as an unused substitute in Saturday's 1-1 stalemate at Nottingham Forest has only intensified the speculation. Although Howe acknowledged leaving him out was simply a tactical decision, his remarks hinted that the winger's time on Tyneside may be drawing to a close, reports Football London.

"Obviously, he has returned from an injury," the Magpies boss said. "I am looking at the team, and I am pleased with how the team has performed in the last three games. So I didn't want to make too many changes."

In a subsequent radio interview, when quizzed about Gordon, Howe said: "It was tactical. The team has performed well in Anthony's absence, we have gone with a bit more solidity with Joelinton playing wide.

"One winger on one side to strengthen us defensively as we weren't happy with how we were defending. Since January, we have been disappointed with a strange structure.

"Ant has come back to fitness and is training well but also I am looking at the future."

For the time being, Gordon remains committed to the Newcastle cause, though he is amongst those who could be offloaded to generate funds for new signings amid a tricky Squad Cost Ratio (SCR) situation this summer, according to colleagues at Chronicle Live.

The Sun previously reported that Gordon would prefer a switch to London should he depart St. James' Park during the summer window. Yet when previously pressed on his future, Gordon dismissed speculation linking him with a departure.

"About me? I haven't seen them," Gordon told Chronicle Live earlier this year. "What are they saying? It's the same old, same old. I think they just pick names out of a hat.

"They do [pick names out of the hat]. I haven't heard anything; they might want to tell me before they tell you [the media]."

Gordon is tied to Newcastle until 2030, placing the club in a commanding position when it comes to negotiating any transfer fee. The Kirkdale-born winger continues to feature on Liverpool's shortlist, with the Reds having previously seen a proposed deal collapse back in 2024.