KEVIN KEEGAN has reacted to securing Newcastle United's Premier League status by moving quickly on the transfer front in an attempt to strengthen his squad ahead of the new campaign.

And it is a sign of his intentions that the Magpies boss, who heads to West Ham tomorrow without any fear of relegation, is courting two players with a combined worth of around £40m.

Newcastle's representatives have already met up with the vice-chairman of Dinamo Zagreb, Zdravko Mamic, and attacking midfielder Luka Modric in the hope of acquiring the highly-sought after player.

But the negotiations are not going to stop there. Dennis Wise, Newcastle's director of football, has also renewed the club's long-standing interest in another of European football's hottest properties, Ajax striker Klaas-Jan Huntelaar.

He first emerged on to the Tyneside radar when Glenn Roeder was in charge, with the forward's team-mate Urby Emanuelson also monitored.

Since then Roeder's departure and the ill-fated reign of Sam Allardyce led to Newcastle cooling their interest, but now there has been a fresh move for the gifted Huntelaar.

It is understood that there has been an enquiry for the 24-year-old from St James' Park, although Ajax are in no rush to sell having recently broadened their wage structure.

The Amsterdam giants also know that with Manchester United and Real Madrid also in the hunt for his services, their £18m valuation could soar over the coming months.