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 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 that 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."

Keegan's famously upbeat approach to football is infectious, and there is little doubt that his enthusiasm and motivational powers were major factors in the club's late-season revival.

But he is acutely aware that there will be times when individuals are unhappy, and he insists his door is always open to them.

He said: "Lots of little things coming together means players are coming in happy.

"You might find a player not happy here, and he will probably be a player not in the side.

"I would be amazed if you get many players not enjoying coming in to this football club.

"They might not enjoy being out of the team. Any player here can always come and see me.

"If they tell me why or if they are unhappy, maybe we can do something about it."

Newcastle have wasted little time in identifying their summer targets, although having already missed out on Croatian star Luka Modric to Spurs, they know the market will be difficult this summer.

Executive director (football) Dennis Wise and Keegan's assistant Chris Hughton were in France at the weekend for Metz's clash with Le Mans, and the manager himself recently crossed the Channel to see St Etienne striker Bafetimbi Gomis in action.

However, talk of a big-money move for £11million-rated Turkish midfielder Arda Turan has been played down on Tyneside.