Kevin Keegan, the Newcastle United manager, has submitted a list of summer transfer targets which he hopes will help propel up the Premier League table next season.

Fresh from a series of meetings with Mike Ashley, the Newcastle owner, and chairman Chris Mort, Keegan revealed that he has targeted three or four top-class players he believes can take the club to the next level. The process of attracting those targets will now be left to Dennis Wise, Tony Jimenez and Jeff Vetere, the club's technical co-ordinator. While that may not extend to an approach for Barcelona's Thierry Henry, Keegan is now keeping his fingers crossed.

"We really put our two lists together because they have got a massive expertise in Europe," he said. "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 out 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."

Reports this morning claimed Keegan was ready tempt Henry, the former Arsenal captain, back to England, but the Newcastle manager was quick to play down the rumours, insisting he is shopping in a different market.

He added: "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."

Modric, who was on Tyneside this week is a target for a series of clubs and Keegan is not getting his hopes up just yet.

He said: "If you are looking at a young midfield player who has got a fantastic future ahead of him, Modric is one of them. But then every other club in the league, from Arsenal and Manchester United, would like Modric."