Although Jonathan Woodgate did not know Spurs would be in the UEFA Cup when he signed for them, Dinamo Zagreb midfielder Luka Modric did.
And Modric turned down a more lucrative deal to join Tottenham instead of Newcastle.
Mort: "Over the summer, we will look to strengthen the squad further.
"In addition to making any immediate fixes that may be required, as with everything else we have done since Mike acquired the club, we will want to acquire players that can help make Newcastle United a top team for the medium and long-term, not just for the next season or two.
"That is why we put a substantial offer in for Luka Modric, who is aged 22.
"It is frustrating that Modric, like (Jonathan) Woodgate before him, should take less money than we offered to move to the bright lights of London, and European football with Tottenham next season, but these are the sorts of difficulties that should get easier to address once we build a squad that competes at the right end of the table."