West Brom could seal a better deal than Imray by signing the £3m star

West Bromwich Albion are in the market to add a new right-back to their squad before the end of the summer transfer window in September.

The Baggies have agreed a deal with Rodez for French defender Nolan Galves, but Southampton have also reached an agreement with the Ligue 2 side, and it is up to the player to make a decision.

One player who will not rejoin James Morrison’s side is Danny Imray, who spent the second half of last season on loan at The Hawthorns.

The English right-back is set for a £5m move from Championship rivals Wrexham after the Baggies decided to pursue a deal for that price.

Why West Brom made the right decision for Danny Imray

Missing out on a deal for Imray feels like a blow to West Brom after he caught the eye on loan, with a goal and an assist in a 3-0 win against Watford in his best performance.

However, £5m for a player who has only played half a season of football above League One level is a significant amount of money, and may not suit the Baggies.

Although the exact fee has yet to be disclosed, West Brom have already agreed a deal to sign Galves from Rodez and he would be an even better addition to the team at right back offensively.

The French star’s performance in Ligue 2 in the 2025/26 campaign shows that he will provide a greater threat at the other end of the pitch, as he is more experienced than the former Palace loanee.

Spending £5m on Imray when he might not be the best defender available to Morrison next season, therefore, doesn’t make a lot of sense, which is why they made the right decision not to challenge Wrexham for his signature.

West Brom could lock down a better pairing than Danny Imray

Although the Palace defender will not be reunited with Morrison and his club at The Hawthorns this summer, there is another former West Brom player who could be targeted.

It was reported earlier this summer that West Brom and Championship rivals Birmingham City are both interested in Barnsley winger Reyes Cleary, who left the Baggies to sign for the League One side in the summer of 2025.

The Tykes are demanding £3m for the 22-year-old striker, amid interest from several clubs in the second division, and the Baggies must cash in to bring him back to the club this summer.

It would be a bigger and more exciting deal than what Imray would have had the club agree a deal for Cleary, as he would be a fantastic addition to Morrison’s squad.

It looks like the Baggies made a mistake when they chose to sell him to Barnsley last year, after he scored 57 goals and eight assists in 68 appearances for the club’s U18s and U21s.

A return of 20 goals from 30 starts in his first season of regular football in League One suggests West Brom should have given him more than two cameos at Championship level before selling him.

No Baggies player created more than 11 ‘big chances’ or provided more than nine assists in 46 Championship games last season, suggesting Reyes has the potential to be Morrison’s best creator.

A haul of seven goals from just 4.25 xG shows that he is an effective finisher who can provide a good goal threat on the left side, as he rarely misses a good chance to score.

Therefore, Cleary could arrive at The Hawthorns as an improvement on what Morison currently has in wide positions, especially as a creator, which is why a reunion with him would be very exciting.

Although, Imray may not have been a more viable option than Galves, should West Brom go ahead with signing the Frenchman, that’s why a deal for the Barnsley star could be the best piece of business for the Baggies.

It is now up to the board to decide how to sign the League One talent before any of their rivals, Birmingham, beat them to it.