The 25-year-old did not feature in the matchday squad and has not played for the club since a 2-1 defeat to Crystal Palace in April, initially sidelined with a hip flexor injury and subsequently left out of the squad with a view to next season. Eddie Howe suggested as much on Friday when asked directly about Gordon's absence.
"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."
Gordon has agreed broad personal terms with Bayern Munich on a five-year contract, according to journalist Ben Jacobs, though a significant gap remains between Bayern's valuation and Newcastle United's asking price of at least 75 million pounds. Bayern have so far been willing to go to around 55 to 60 million pounds. The volume of interest in Gordon from Arsenal, Liverpool, Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain is understood to be applying pressure on Bayern to close that gap.
Newcastle's position is firm. The club have communicated directly to Gordon's camp and to interested parties that there is no release clause in his contract and that they are under no obligation to sell. Gordon has scored 17 goals in all competitions this season and is viewed by Howe as one of the club's most important attacking assets.
The player has indicated through his representatives that he is ready to leave and would prefer a move outside England, with Bayern currently his favoured destination. Whether Gordon features in the final game of the season at Brentford next weekend remains to be seen, though Howe's comments about protecting players with futures elsewhere suggest it is unlikely.