Keegan finalises summer targets April 25 2008
Kevin Keegan has handed his list of summer targets over to Dennis Wise as Newcastle prepare to launch their latest recruitment mission.
The Magpies boss has revealed that, after top-level talks with owner Mike Ashley and chairman Chris Mort, a hit-list has been drawn up in an attempt to land the three or four top-class players he believes can take the club to the next level.
However, the actual process of attracting those men will now be left to executive director of football Wise, vice-president of player recruitment Tony Jimenez and technical co-ordinator Jeff Vetere.
While that may not extend to an approach for Barcelona striker Thierry Henry, Keegan is now keeping his fingers crossed.
He said: "We had a meeting a couple of weeks ago. We really put our two lists together because they have got a massive expertise in Europe.
"While we on our list have got all the top ones, they are looking at the ones who maybe you can get who will be the next top ones, but are younger. When we put them together, it was quite interesting.
"That's it now. If someone asks me how we are getting on with our targets, I can honestly say, 'I don't know' because I am not party to that.
"But I will know the minute they are complete or have failed, I guess - hopefully complete."
Keegan put the finishing touches to his preparations for Saturday's Premier League trip to West Ham amid reports that he is ready to test Barca's resolve to hang on to Henry.
However, the 57-year-old laughed it off and admitted the Toon are shopping in a different market.
Keegan said: "It's fantastic isn't it. I have had lunch with him - I have had fantastic lunches this week at the training ground. We have had (Luka) Modric there with Thierry Henry, Deco has been in for a meal...
"Unfortunately, that's fantasy football. Back to reality, the only time we will really be able to say what we are doing is when we fetch people in. It is easy to target people.
"The Henry story, I went to a talk-in and a 10-year-old kid asked me: 'If you could fetch one player to Newcastle United, who would that be?', and I said Thierry Henry because I think he is the best player the Premier League has ever had.
"From that, we are now signing him, which is fantastic, really."