Don't forget the goalkeepers: Peter Schmeichel. 505, 000 pounds for the best stopper England ever saw. The stats: Five Prem titles, Three FA Cups, one League Cup, and the Champions League. Top shelf guy for youth team money

I know he wasn't cheap at the time, but I have to go with Dennis Bergkamp. Everyone has been talking about Henry but Bergkamp was so instrumental to Arsenal's success. Arsenal had been struggling for a couple years after the glory days of the "boring, boring, 1-nil Arsenal", this turned around when Bergkamp came to the club. Of course a lot of this success has a lot to do with Arsene Wenger coming to the club as well, but Wenger and Dennis shared a similar philosophy about football and both had a huge influence.

Besides Zidane I don't know if any footballer in history has had a better, smoother, composed touch than Bergkamp. That may be a modern biased, and players like Ronaldinho come to mind, but there was just something about the way Berkgamp controlled the ball. My words don't really compare to Henry's himself, who called playing with Dennis, "a dream for a striker." Like many Dutch players his vision is usually just on another level than other players of his time, and again like many great Dutch players, he is ruthless and calm in front of the net. Iceman is an appropriate nickname for him, he reminds me of a hitman actually, remaining calm in tight situations.

He helped Arsenal to 3 premier league titles, four FA cups and a champions league final in 2006.

In a way You could say Bergkamp helped bring totalvuebtol to England just like Cruijff brought it over to Spain. Cruijff's influence has been massive on world football and will always be a legend at Barcelona. Bergkamp's is obviously different at Arsenal, and it's hard to compare the two but it is interesting how much Arsenal's style changed with the arrival of the Non-Flying Dutchman.

Just found this video, looks interesting.

Https://www.Youtube.Com/watch?V=gSbgVcUIgW0

I think the current economic climate (marketing, branding, and how they impact and control fan populations) lends itself to making bigger superstars right now. At least, certainly more so than 15-20 years ago

Denis Irwin.

Purcahsed from Oldham Athletic for £625, 000. Became United's, and arguably, the best LB in the league at the time, even after the Class of '92 stepped in. 22 league goals and 368 appearances for Man United in 12 years.

With Man United, he won the Premier League 7 times, the FA cup 3 times, and the famous Champions' League win in 1999.

We let him go for free, but Irwin was another one of United's best bargains we ever had. I'd rank Cantona first, Rooney second, and Iriwn third

Cantona to United, Ronaldo to United, Lampard to Chelsea, are all good, but to be perfectly honest, in 5 years the answer is going to be Joe Hart to City - ridiculously low fee and once Buffon/Casillas are done he'll be the best goalkeeper in the world and stay at City forever...

I would also think that Rooney deserves a mention, as he has been a staple of Utd for years and still has years in front of him.

If he can keep playing at a high level for another 5 years for Utd, I think he will be a definite contender for this title. Even with his high price-tag....

What he has done for Utd both on and off the field has been huge. His branding, goals, leadership, and image kept Utd at the top of the EPL even through their biggest "transitional period" in decades.

Probably Ronaldo for how much he was sold by and what he helped Utd achieve in his time there I'd say he's been the most influential. At least in the modern era. I mean 12 million and he was sold for what 80 million. That's absolutely nuts. I guess you could add Frank Lampard to the list seeing how he was bought for under 15 million and has scored over 150 goals for Chelsea. But that's just my opinion. Messi was bought from Newell Old Boys? Or something like that in Argentina for dirt cheap if they ever end up selling him if someone is crazy enough to try and bid for him and actually win it's going to definitely profit Barcelona. That's my 2 cents

I just realize this is about the EPL only. My Cruijff dissertation and Messi counter-argument make no sense then

Olkjaer £1. 5m one of the prems greatest talents of the prem years and ever underated, a coup at such a price. Especially considering he scored the goal that won them the champions league in 99'. I'm in a rush but ill post more llater

Best free transfer in recent years: Demba Ba West Ham > Newcastle. Even though it seems Pardew might sell him in January. He's been nothing short of amazing for Newcastle. Despite his slump in the second half of last year. His form is back again this season with 6 goals in 8 games in the PL tied with Michu for top scorer

Frank Lampard.

Bought in 2001 for 11m pounds, Lampard has been the first name on the sheet for more than a decade. He deserves a mention purely for his longevity. When you add stats like 'third all-time highest goal scorer for the club', 'highest scoring midfielder' and 'second-highest number of assists in the PL era', it makes the case very strong. It is safe to say, if it wasn't for Lampard, Drogba wouldn't be the player he turned out to be

Well Ronaldo signed for 12m pounds, became the best player in the world, and led us to a champions league title along with 3 EPL titles. Then was sold for a huge profit at 80m.

That's some pretty good business if you ask me

The transfer market now is incomparable to the transfers in the very old days (pre-90's), but I'd say Johan Cruijff's transfer from a multiple all-winning Ajax side to Barcelona is the most important transfer Barça has ever done. It started a life-long love affair between Barcelona and the Dutch school, it took the greatest player of that time and his coach to renew Barcelona, who were on a serious decline, and made them win it all again. Johan Neeskens is another one of those pivotal players, but his influence is always underrated.

Cruijff, Neeskens and of course Rinus Michels to Barça allowed the club to become what it is today. Thanks to their efforts and brilliant ideas, great players like Cruijff himself, Maradona, Romário, Guardiola, Laudrup, Rivaldo, Ronaldo, Xavi, Iniesta, Messi and many more were able to blossom and become legends. The style of possession-based total football and the 4-3-3 Rinus Michels won so much with, changed football dramatically forever. It also won Michels the 'best coach of the century award' from FIFA, and rightly so

Some names which popped into my head, won't go into detail though.

Henry
Drogba
Vieira
Torres (Atletico to Liverpool)
Ronaldo
Cantona
Park Ji Sung (this one is of course not just about football)