Newcastle United do not need any extra motivation as a memorable season to date enters the home straight. Five straight wins means Eddie Howe's side sit third in the table, three points clear and with a game in hand in the unexpected race for a Champions League finish.
The Magpies have shrugged off their Carabao Cup disappointment to revive their prospects of securing a top-four spot. It would be an achievement way ahead of schedule, but the dismal campaigns endured at Chelsea and Liverpool so far combined with Tottenham's ongoing turmoil means there may not be a better chance for Howe's side to gatecrash the Premier League's elite.
Newcastle's destiny remains in their own hands with just nine matches remaining, with home clashes against Arsenal, Brighton and Tottenham to come, as well as a final-day visit to Chelsea. But as it stands, the final home match of the season against a different opponent could have a greater bearing when it comes to the club's summer transfer plans, regardless of their eventual league finish.
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Howe's side signed off at St James' Park last season with a sensational victory over Arsenal, a result which all but ended the Gunners' hopes of a top-four finish. This time around, Leicester City are currently set to be the final visitors to Tyneside with the fortunes of both sides almost reversed.
It was not long ago that the Foxes were held up as the model club for all others to follow, following their fairytale Premier League triumph and their FA Cup success five years' later. Now though, it is Leicester who face a desperate fight for survival while Newcastle look the side likeliest to disrupt the so-called 'Big Six' over the coming seasons.
The Magpies have already defeated the Foxes twice this season, cantering to a 3-0 victory at the King Power on Boxing Day before booking their place in the Carabao Cup semi-final with a 2-0 win on home soil little over a fortnight later. Things have since gone from bad to worse for Leicester, with interim boss Dean Smith drafted in with the club sat two points adrift of safety.
This precarious predicament will do little to quell speculation over the futures of a host of first-team stars. Youri Tielemans is set to leave as a free agent, with Harvey Barnes and James Maddison also the subject of intense speculation.
Newcastle had two summer bids rebuffed for Maddison, but will surely be tempted to return with an offer with the England international set to enter the final year of his contract. Recent reports suggest Leicester will insist on a fee of £50 million despite the real prospect of losing the attacking midfielder on a free transfer next year.
According to the latest report from Football Insider, the Foxes will also insist upon a similar asking price for Barnes. The winger has regularly been linked to St James' Park in recent weeks, despite the January arrival of Anthony Gordon.
Newcastle must be wary of falling foul of FFP despite the obvious temptation of swooping for both players. The Magpies' likely participation in UEFA competition next term will place an even greater emphasis on the club's finances, due to the squad cost rule which becomes tighter with each season.
However, Leicester's own FFP concerns could prompt a firesale regardless of whether they avoid relegation. The Foxes recently posted record losses of £92.5m, with chief executive Susan Whelan admitting 'profits from player trading' was a key part of the club's plan to address this imbalance.
Newcastle must continue to box clever in their efforts to consistently establish themselves among the Premier League's elite, and prospective moves for Barnes and Maddison must be weighted against the value of other targets. Clashes with Brighton and Tottenham may prove to be more decisive when it comes to determining which - if any - European competition Newcastle will participate in next term.
But when it comes to their summer plans and the reported £100m demand, it could well be the final home match against Leicester which bears the greatest impact on shaping the club's summer plans.
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