30 PAOLO DI CANIO (Sheffield Wednesday to West Ham
United, £1.75 million, 1999)
Manhandling referees, making fascist salutes and scoring
spectacular goals was all in a days work for the forward with the
shortest fuse in Italy. West Ham fans adore him, the rest of us
worry about his fascination with fascism I am a fascist, not a
racist, Di Canio said. Thats all right then.
29 NEVILLE SOUTHALL (Bury to Everton, £150,000,
1981)
The Welshman worked as a binman, a hod-carrier and a waiter before
finding his true vocation in life between the sticks at Goodison
Park. Made more than 750 appearances a record - and won two
league titles, two FA Cups and the European Cup Winners Cup. Also
won a record 92 Wales caps.
28 LARRY LLOYD (Coventry City to Nottingham Forest,
£60,000, 1976)
Popped up on our list of the worst 50 players in the world but
Lloyd has the medals to prove that he was more than a
one-dimensional defender. Won league championship medals with
Liverpool and Forest and has two European Cup winners medals which
he can polish at home.
27 STEVE BULL (West Bromwich Albion to Wolverhampton
Wanderers, £65,000, 1986)
Mr Wolves began his career at arch-rivals West Brom but hit his
stride at Molineux. Left The Hawthorns for just £65,000 and
finished his career 13 years later after a club-record 306 goals,
including 52 in the 1987-88 season. Also scored 18 hat-tricks and
played for England 13 times (eight as substitute).
26 MICHAEL ESSIEN (Lyons to Chelsea, £24 million,
2005)
Not cheap at £24 million but arguably the best midfield player at
Stamford Bridge. Frank Lampard may score more goals, Michael
Ballack may earn more, but Essien is irreplaceable. According to
Jose Mourinho, he has incredible physical power and unending
tactical abilities.
25 WAYNE ROONEY (Everton to Manchester United, £30 million,
2004)
Once a blue, always a Red. Rooney may be Public Enemy No 1 at
Goodison Park, but the England forward has not looked back since
joining United. Scored a hat-trick on his debut against Fenerbahce
and will wear Denis Laws No 10 shirt next season.
24 CARLOS TEVEZ (Corinthians to West Ham United,
2006)
Only a forensic accountant and Kia Joorabchian would be able to
unravel the details of the Argentina forwards move to England but
his impact at Upton Park was, eventually, breathtaking. Scored
seven times in the last 10 league games of the season to save West
Ham from relegation before packing his bags for Old Trafford once
those contract issues have been resolved.
23 TONY CASCARINO (Crokenhill to Gillingham, training
equipment, 1982)
Cascarino has learned to live with the rumours that he was sold to
Gillingham for a job lot of corrugated-iron, but, according to the
former Ireland forward, his transfer was facilitated by the handing
over of some training equipment, tracksuits, stuff like that. He
was sold to Millwall for £250,000 five years later.
22 DIMITAR BERBATOV (Bayer Leverkusen to Tottenham Hotspur,
£10.9 million, 2006)
The Bulgaria forward was not cheap when he swapped the Bundesliga
for Spurs last summer but he looks a bargain after catching the eye
with impressive displays in his first season in the Premier League.
Now valued at about £25 million and attracting interest from
Manchester United and Chelsea.
21 MARC OVERMARS (Ajax to Arsenal, £7 million,
1997)
Another Arsene Wenger masterstroke. Bought for £7 million, sold to
Barcelona for £25 million three years later. He loved scoring
against Manchester United. And he was useless in Spain.
20 DARREN BENT (Ipswich Town to Charlton Athletic, £2.5
million, 2005)
Ipswichs decision to sell their star striker in the summer of 2005
did not cause a stampede. Charlton were in pole position and tied
up a deal for £2.5 million. Two years and 31 Premier League goals
later, the England forward was sold to Spurs for £16.5 million a
profit of £14 million. Of this Ipswich receive about £2.5 million
through a wise sell-on clause.
19 ROY KEANE (Nottingham Forest to Manchester United, £3.75
million, 1993)
Nearly joined Blackburn Rovers before setting his heart on a move
to Old Trafford. Kenny Dalglishs loss was Uniteds gain. Anyone
who doubts just how good he was should watch a video of his
performance away to Juventus in 1999. It was the most emphatic
display of selflessness I have seen on a football field, Alex
Ferguson said. Pounding over every blade of grass, competing as if
he would rather die of exhaustion than lose, he inspired all around
him. I felt it was an honour to be associated with such a
player.
18 DAVID NUGENT (Bury to Preston North End, £100,000,
2005)
Failed to make the grade at Liverpool and had to go back to basics
before earning himself a move to Preston North End for just
£100,000. Two years and a goal on his England debut later, the
forward is close to sealing a £7 million transfer to
Portsmouth.
17 IAN RUSH (Chester City to Liverpool, £300,000,
1980)
His name still turns the stomach of Manchester United fans, but who
can argue with his scoring record. Scored for fun except against
United and when playing for Juventus. Never mind the quality, stand
back and admire the stats - 346 goals in 658 games, five titles,
three FA Cups, one European Cup, five League Cups and four Charity
Shields. Not bad for an Everton supporter.
16 PETER WITHE (Newcastle United to Aston Villa, £500,000,
1980)
Aston Villas record signing when he moved south, Withe justified
his transfer fee by scoring 20 times as Ron Saunderss team won the
title in 1981. Also scored Villas winning goal in the 1982
European Cup final against Bayern Munich.
15 NICOLAS ANELKA (Paris St-Germain to Arsenal, £500,000,
1996)
Arrived at Highbury as a moody 17-year-old and threw his toys out
of the pram two-and-a-half years later before Arsenal accepted Real
Madrids £23 million offer. Could anyone else but Arsene Wenger
make a £22.5 million profit on a 17-year-old in such a short
time?
14 GIANFRANCO ZOLA (Parma to Chelsea, £4.5 million,
1996)
Won trophies at Stamford Bridge before Roman Abramovichs millions
transformed the clubs fortunes and all because he spent hours
watching Diego Maradona in training while they were team-mates at
Napoli. Hes a clever little so-and-so, Sir Alex Ferguson said.
Thousands of defenders would agree.
13 KEVIN KEEGAN (Scunthorpe United to Liverpool, £35,000,
1971)
Forget the dodgy perm, the Brut ads and the England job, Keegan is
the only Englishman to have been voted European Footballer of the
Year twice. After 323 appearances and 100 goals, he said goodbye to
Liverpool with a European Cup winners medal in 1977. When they
start singing, Youll Never Walk Alone, my eyes start to water,
Keegan said. There have been times when I've actually been crying
while I've been playing.
12 PETER SCHMEICHEL (Brondby to Manchester United,
£550,000, 1991)
Sir Alex Ferguson has signed some dodgy keepers but he made no
mistake when he bought Schmeichel. The Denmark goalkeeper was a key
member of Uniteds all-conquering sides of the 90s and Ferguson
described him as the bargain of the century.
11 CRISTIANO RONALDO (Sporting Lisbon to Manchester United,
£12 million, 2003)
Love him or hate him, the Portugal winker looks a bargain at £12
million. Sir Alex Ferguson was unconvinced about his talents until
Ronaldo tore apart Uniteds defence in a pre-season friendly for
Sporting Lisbon. Loves himself a little too much, otherwise would
be in the top five.
