Football FanCast columnist Rob Facey asks, with just days until the January transfer window opens, who has been the best foreign import to grace our shores?

Tottenham legend Ossie Ardiles has lavished praise on Eric Cantona and Dennis Bergkamp as the Premier League's greatest imports as we start the age old debate; who is the best foreign player to play in England?

Ardiles, along with Ricky Villa, was one of the first two foreign stars in the English game when they joined Tottenham as World Cup winners in 1978.

Ardiles went onto enjoy ten successful years at White Hart Lane and the former Spurs boss has spoken about the groundbreaking nature of their move and how they paved the way for others to follow.

"It was a revolution," Ardiles exclusively told Football FanCast.

"We were the first. There was a change and people liked it. We were the first two but by the end of the year there were about 15 or 20 foreign players."

According to Ardiles, the Premier League has been enhanced by the influx of foreign stars, despite claims that this hinders the progress of the national team.

"If you take all of the foreign players away, the Premier League would not be the best in the world.

"It helps English players like John Terry and Rio Ferdinand to be defending against Didier Drogba as you have to be a better player. Because of this the national team definitely gets better."

But what of the big question; who the greatest foreign star to play in England? Ardiles plumped for the predictable classics of the ‘90s, and who could disagree?

"Arguably Manchester United would not be what they are today without Cantona," he said, "and you go to Arsenal and you talk about Bergkamp. He is a sort of God."

Ardiles even included one of his own signings, Jurgen Klinsmann, in the list of Premier League greats, but what about the other names he mentioned?

"Historically Cantona, Klinsmann, Schmeichel, Zola, Bergkamp, Thierry Henry... many, many, many," Ardiles said.

"Today you have Ronaldo, Tevez and Mascherano."

But will the modern day players stand the test of time? What about the likes of Robinho and Torres?

Cristiano Ronaldo, who was recently awarded the Ballon d'Or, will certainly go down in the history books but who else will join him?

Cult figures, including Juninho and David Ginola, are always popular with fans, but just who is the best foreign import of all time?

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