Bayern Munich agree personal terms for ‘underrated’ Newcastle star without PIF approval

Newcastle boss Eddie Howe has admitted Anthony Gordon could have played his final match for the club amid speculation he will join Bayern Munich this summer.

The 25-year-old England international has sat out the Magpies’ last four games, the first two because of a hip flexor injury, as reports suggest the Bundesliga champions are in advanced negotiations over his future.

Asked if he was not using Gordon because he had one eye on the future, head coach Howe replied: “When you get to this stage of the season, part of what we will be doing we’ll be looking to next year, naturally, so yes.

“Anthony’s just come back from injury. I think the team has played well in his absence and with a partial view to the future, yes.”

Asked if there was any update on the speculation over a potential switch to the Allianz Arena, Howe added: “No, nothing, no updates from me. These are discussions that potentially might be happening, but not with me.”

However, Howe has a big decision to make for Sunday’s penultimate Premier League game of a disappointing campaign when relegation-threatened West Ham head for St James’ Park on Sunday.

Brazil international Joelinton, who lined up in Gordon’s left-sided attacking berth at Nottingham Forest last weekend, is nursing a thigh problem.

Asked if he would select Gordon if he felt the need to, Howe replied: “If it’s the right thing for the team – and I put the team and the club above any individual – then I would play him, of course.”

The game will be the last at St James’ of Kieran Trippier’s stay on Tyneside with the England full-back due to leave the club when his contract expires at the end of the season.

Huge gap in Gordon valuation holding up deal

Journalist Ben Jacobs shared an update on Gordon’s situation for talkSPORT on Friday, revealing the winger has terms in place to sign a five-year contract in Munich.

However, this has so far been done without PIF’s approval, as there is still a significant gap in valuation between the two clubs.

Club-to-club talks are ‘ongoing’, says Jacobs, but there is a ‘gulf’ between the £75m fee Newcastle are demanding and the figure Bayern are willing to pay.

Gordon, branded ‘underrated’ by Liverpool’s Curtis Jones, wouldn’t be the first to seemingly force his way out of Tyneside after Alexander Isak’s move to Anfield last summer.

And although the Magpies were unable to prevent his departure, they did force the Reds to pay a British record fee of £125m, a fee Liverpool have not yet seen the fruits of due to the Swede’s injury troubles.