Newcastle United players enjoyed a positive week in Dubai with Eddie Howe's desire to be left alone to get on with training respected. United made it clear that this would be a low key training camp and did not hold any Press conferences or put players up for interview throughout their stay in the Middle East.
One of Howe's key wishes was for the group to get some "closure" on the defeats at Chelsea and Everton. The head coach wasn't satisfied with the second half at Goodison Park with no real clear-cut chances created.
And while this could have been costly on the night, the fact that it was three games in seven days inevitably contributed to that lack of sharpness. Therefore Howe has not overplayed the situation behind the scenes.
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Instead, players improved their finishing with their efforts in the sun culminating in a 5-0 rout of Gulf United. Howe's players know they have a tough game ahead of them at Tottenham a week on Sunday but there is belief in the group that they can go to the capital and push Spurs all the way like they did at Chelsea.
With the same application as Stamford Bridge and some decent refereeing this time, there is no reason why Newcastle can't emerge with something at Spurs.
United will have company if they decide to continue pursuit for Duvan Zapata
The Italian morning newspapers have been getting unfolded around the cafes of Milan with news that Inter have joined the chase to lure the Atlanta star to their wishlist. Zapata's representatives had a busy January without getting the 30-year-old a big move as they fielded enquiries from Newcastle and West Ham.
The Hammers submitted a late deal sheet to the Premier League to try to sign the Colombia star but were beaten by the clock. That has proved to be a warning shot to other interested clubs.
Atlanta slapped a €50million price tag on Zapata last year but he now has just one season left on his current deal. Inter sources are making a lot of noise about a marquee signing in the striker's department this summer.
Zapata is on their wish-list but the suggestion this week is that they may only move for him if they miss out on Gianluca Scamacca of Sassuolo. Newcastle head of recruitment Steve Nickson is well aware of the 23-year-old Scamacca, who has a lucrative boot deal with Nike but may have other targets in mind.
Zapata's agent knows this is a crucial time for the striker because at 30 this could be his last big pay day.
Newcastle preparing to spend big but won't be pushed around
The summer window will reopen on June 9 but talk of Newcastle's recruitment drive has already started in the football world. That's hardly surprising given the club splashed out £91million in January.
United are unlikely to put a cap on how much they will spend because they don't know what difficulties await them in the next window. But one thing that is clear is Amanda Staveley and co won't be held to ransom by clubs who think they have unlimited spending.
Newcastle are prepared to pay the big fees but will move on to the next target if they feel clubs are trying to take them for a ride. Notably, United left the room during talks for Diego Carlos and Sven Botman with Sevilla and Lille when the two European clubs opted to hold on for an astronomical fee.
Just as a reminder of how the club will play it this summer, the Ripon financier said last month: "That (taking the club up the table) needs a lot of investment. "We are not saying we are going to spend silly money. "I hope that in the next transfer window people will see we are not going to overpay for players or assets. If people think we will spend silly money, we will not."
Newcastle United players continue discussions on new deals
Three of Eddie Howe's Newcastle senior squad are awaiting the outcomes to discussions over new contracts. The existing deals for Fabian Schar, Paul Dummett and Sean Longstaff are all up at the end of the season.
In his Press conferences, Howe has stated that all three are players he admires and can have a future with the club. The look of Newcastle's squad next season will be intriguing with ambition to push up to the top half clear but also a need for retaining players who know the club well.
This week Newcastle agreed a deal with youngster Dylan Stephenson who has been the Under-23s' star men this term with 11 goals. Although the 19-year-old's short-term future will be a loan deal with Hartlepool already one of the clubs considered for a deal.
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