Source: Daily_Mail
THE LIST: Sportsmail's top 50 Premier and Football League signings of the season - Nos 40-31
HAVE YOUR SAY... Who is your top signing this season? Amid the excitement of the football season's final furlong, Sportsmail pauses to reflect on the men who have made all the difference to their new clubs. We pick out our top 50 signings from this season in both the Premier and Football Leagues, but who would be your No 1? TELL US WHAT YOU THINK As the football season nears its climax, fans up and down thecountry will either be gunning for glory, praying for salvation orsimply hatching plans for success next time round.[LNB] But whateverthe outcome of your team's season, thoughts will very soon turn towardsnext term and the summer transfer window. Just ask Rafa Benitez. TheLiverpool boss has demanded £60million to spend on three world-classplayers.[LNB]But before we get ahead of ourselves, Sportsmail havemade a list of the top 50 players signed this season who have made allthe difference to their new clubs.[LNB]Whether it's Landon Donovan,who sparked Everton's bid for European football next year, ThomasVermaelen, who provided the platform for Arsenal to push for the titleor Sebastien Bassong's understated influence at Tottenham, stay tunedfor the Premier League's most inspired signings this term.[LNB]Butthe Football League's best buys are here too, from Darren Ambrose andhis goal-scoring exploits at Crystal Palace to loan star TomCleverley's instant impact at Watford.[LNB]We'recounting down 10 each day till our No 1 is revealed on Friday and, asever, let us know who you think was the top signing this season. [LNB]Read Nos 50-41[LNB]40 Steve Morison (Stevenage Borough to Millwall, £130,000)An absolute steal at £130k, Morison has been scoring for fun to put the Lions on the verge of promotion.[LNB]Signed from non-league Stevenage Borough in the summer, he scored justtwice in his first 18 games. [LNB]However, after finding his feet, he has bagged 19 goalsin all competitions, including 17 in League One.[LNB] Roaring success: Morison has been in fine form for the Lions[LNB]39 Diniyar Bilyaletdinov (Lokomotiv Moscow to Everton, £10m) Bilyaletdinov won Russia's young player of the year when helpingLokomotiv to the title in 2004 and was captain before heading to Goodison Park last summer. [LNB]He quickly settled in to life on Merseyside and has scored six times for the Toffees as well as weighing in with plenty of assists in the club's strong finish to the campaign.[LNB][LNB] Big move: Bilyaletdinov had no problem adapting to life in the Premier League[LNB]38 Billy Sharp (Sheffield United to Doncaster, loan)A life-long Sheffield United fan, Sharp is doing the business at near neighbours Doncaster.[LNB]Sharp signed for Rovers on a season-long loan last August and has helped himself to 15 goals in 35 games - including six consecutive scoring appearances late last year.[LNB]The 24-year-old also scooped the Championship Player of the Month award for December.[LNB]37 Sebastien Bassong (Newcastle to Tottenham, £8m)Originally signed as cover at centre-back, Bassong has become a regularfor Harry Redknapp's side as Ledley King and Jonathan Woodgate continue tostruggle with injuries.[LNB]Taking on a defender who had been a regular for relegated Newcastlecould have been viewed as a bit of a gamble but Bassong made an instant impression with the winner against Liverpool on the opening day and has gone from strength to strength as Spurs chase a Champions League place.[LNB][LNB] Solid: Bassong[LNB]Hot shot: Sharp[LNB] 36 Lee Cattermole(Wigan to Sunderland, £6m)Black Cats boss Steve Bruce was keen to be reunited with the hard-working midfielder he was in charge of at Wigan and took Cattermole to the Stadium of Light in August.[LNB]The former Middlesbrough player missed a sizeable chunk of the season through injury but has done enough in the games he has played to win over the Black Cats faithful and has captained the side in the absence of Lorik Cana.[LNB]35 Adam Johnson (Middlesbrough to Manchester City, £9m)Johnson came through the ranks at Middlesbrough and had loan spells at Leeds and Watford before joining Roberto Mancini's star-studded squad as the most recent transfer window was about to close.[LNB]The winger has not looked out of place and a wonder strike against Sunderland has increased the calls for him to make Fabio Capello's England squad for the World Cup.[LNB] Wide boy: Winger Johnson[LNB]Man in the middle: Cattermole[LNB] 34 Sol Campbell (Unattached to Arsenal, free)Campbell's career hit the rocks after the strange move to Notts Countycame to an abrupt end after one game - against League Two Morecambe. [LNB]Cut to five months later and he was lining up for the Gunners in theChampions League against Porto. Life is good again for Sol. [LNB]His experience, desire and ability remainsufficient for him to perform at the very top when called upon.[LNB][LNB]33 Adam Le Fondre (Rochdale to Rotherham, £100,000)Le Fondre enjoyed two very successful seasons at Rochdale, finishing asthe club's top scorer and player of the season. [LNB]And he has picked up at Rotherham where he left off - 27 goals in 42appearances since arriving in August has kept the Millers in the race for promotion to League One.[LNB][LNB] Second spell: Campbell[LNB]On the up: Le Fondre[LNB] 32 Jordan Rhodes (Ipswich Town to Huddersfield, undisclosed)After loan spells at Oxford, Rochdale and Brentford, it would seem that Rhodes found his home with the Terriers last summer.[LNB]Rhodes has made 46 appearances this season and scored 21 goals,including an eight-minute hat-trick of headers in the 4-0victory over Exeter City in October.[LNB][LNB]31 Lorik Cana (Marseille to Sunderland, £5m)The tough-tackling Albania international, 26, is a fans' favourite at the Stadium of Light and his attitude and experience earned him the captain's armband shortly after signing a four-year contract last summer.[LNB]Cana rose to the challenge as Sunderland battled away from just above the relegation zone earlier in the season.[LNB] Terrier: Rhodes[LNB]Leader: Cana[LNB] The best of the rest of The ListSportsmail'stop 50 Premier League players of the decadeSportsmail'stop 50 last-gasp goals in British footballSportsmail'stop 50 footballers never to play at the World CupSportsmail's top 50 sporting feuds of all timeSportsmail's 50 great sports photographsSportsmail'stop 50 commentators of all timeSportsmail'stop 50 sporting venuesSportsmail'stop 50 performers of the season so farSportsmail'stop 50 all-time managers in BritainSportsmail'stop 50 goal poachersSportsmail'stop 50 footballing traitorsSportsmail'stop 50 FA Cup heroesSportsmail'sgreatest Wembley finals in historySportsmail'stop 50 biggest hitters in cricketSportsmail'stop 50 British & Irish LionsSportsmail'stop 50 Ashes heroes [LNB] Explore more:People:Steve Bruce, Jonathan Woodgate, Sol Campbell, Fabio Capello, Harry Redknapp, Sebastien Bassong, Rafa Benitez, Ledley King, Lorik Cana, Darren Ambrose, Adam Johnson, Lee CattermolePlaces:Leeds, Liverpool, Newcastle, Oxford, Albania, United Kingdom, RussiaOrganisations:Football League
