Anthony Gordon tells Everton he will NOT return to the club after missing three days of training

Anthony Gordon has told Everton he has no intention of returning to his boyhood club as he tries to force a move to Newcastle United.

Gordon, 21, is a target for high-flying Newcastle but Everton want around £55m for the winger. He has missed the last three days of training at Everton’s Finch Farm base, although the first of those was a planned absence.

The clubs are in formal talks but have yet to agree on a fee. Chelsea also took an interest in Gordon, who has 18 months left on his contract, last summer.

Anthony Gordon has told Everton he has no intention of returning to his childhood club

Everton’s youth product has not started a game for the Toffees since the World Cup mid-season break after a dip in form following his starring role in last season’s Premier League survival bid with Frank Lampard.

Lampard was sacked on Monday and Everton have yet to name a replacement, although number 1 candidate Marcelo Bielsa traveled to London today for talks.

Everton had hoped to bring Arnaut Danjuma on loan from Villarreal this week, but the Dutch international chose Tottenham instead despite completing a medical in Merseyside.

Gordon is a target for high-flying Newcastle but Everton want around £55m for the winger

Gordon has not started a game for the Toffees since the World Cup mid-season break.

Earlier this week Sportsmail confirmed that Newcastle were in formal talks with Everton over a deal for Gordon. However, Gordon’s £55m valuation of Everton exceeds what Newcastle are willing to pay.

Therefore, the Magpies offered Chris Wood as part of a trade deal before he agreed to join Nottingham Forest on loan until the end of the 2022-2023 campaign.

As it stands, Gordon has 18 months left on his current contract at Goodison Park, having joined the club as an 11-year-old following his release from Liverpool.

Eddie Howe remained silent when asked about the situation involving Gordon following Newcastle’s 1-0 win over Southampton in the first leg of the Carabao Cup semi-final.

The youth squad player has missed the last three days of training at Everton’s Finch Farm base

Gordon’s absence on Tuesday was said to be planned, but his lack of attendance on Wednesday and Thursday remains unexplained.

Speaking at his post-match press conference, Howe said: ‘I can’t tell you absolutely anything. I have been preparing for this game for the past two days.

Gordon took matters into his own hands and tried to force a deal with Newcastle by not showing up for Everton training.

Gordon has missed three days of training this week. His absence on Tuesday is said to have been planned, but his lack of attendance on Wednesday and Thursday remains unexplained.

Gordon, who has three Premier League goals this season, is keen to join Howe’s side as they are currently in contention for a Champions League place.

Gordon hopes Farhad Moshiri (above) will sanction his sale before the window closes