The 57-year-old has spent the last few months seeing several of his players linked with other clubs as speculation mounts over his summer spending plans.

Striker Michael Owen's future has been a topic for regular debate with the final year of his contract on Tyneside looming, and Tottenham is his latest rumoured destination should Dimitar Berbatov leave White Hart Lane.

In addition, Obafemi Martins has been repeatedly linked with Arsenal, as, in the past, has Charles N'Zogbia, while James Milner has attracted the interest of Middlesbrough and Aston Villa.

Rangers have reportedly identified Alan Smith as a potential target, while Abdoulaye Faye and Steve Harper have been touted as possible signings for Blackburn and Liverpool respectively and Damien Duff's Tyneside home is up for sale.

In addition, the Magpies are still to agree a new deal with England Under-21 skipper Steven Taylor, and that will not have gone unnoticed by his admirers. However, Keegan is adamant the mood within the camp is such that he is confident of retaining the services of those he wants to stay.

He said: "Everybody at the club has been fantastic. I know there's stuff in the papers saying that players aren't happy, but I don't see that - I think they are happy at the club. I sat down with them when I first came in and said 'What do you expect at the club? What do you like about this club, and what don't you like about it?' I took on board lots of things that they felt could be better. They bought into the new rules. They weren't written down, or anything. That's what we did and that was the change-around at this football club."