West Brom can find Danny Imray 2.0 by beating Southampton in transfer race | OneFootball

West Brom must beat Southampton in the race for French right-back Nolan Galves after missing out on Danny Imray to Wrexham

West Bromwich Albion have missed out on one of their top targets, but could yet find an ideal replacement as they look set to beat one of their division rivals to the post.

James Morrison is looking to stamp his authority on the West Brom squad after taking the permanent role in the dugout at the Hawthorns, and has already made four additions to the ranks.

Each of Barney Stewart, Jimmy-Jay Morgan, Carter Pinnington, and Conor Townsend have penned deals in the Black Country to reinforce Morrison's squad ahead of next season, but the Baggies don't appear to be done just yet.

A lot of surgery is still required, especially after the departures of Jed Wallace, Josh Maja, Daryl Dike, and Karlan Grant, as well as the loan spells of Jamaldeen Jimoh-Aloba, Charlie Taylor, and Danny Imray coming to an end.

Imray, 23, mightily impressed in the second half of the campaign after joining on loan from Crystal Palace, with West Brom reportedly keen to bring him back to the club, though those chances look to have taken a hit, as the Baggies have now turned their attentions elsewhere successfully.

West Brom have beaten Southampton to the signing of Nolan Galves after Wrexham won the race for Crystal Palace defender Danny Imray

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With money tight around the Hawthorns this summer, West Brom look set to lose the race to sign Imray permanently from Palace after Wrexham agreed a deal worth around £5 million for the Englishman.

This will come as a huge blow for the Baggies, who made their intent on re-signing the defender clear after one goal and two assists in 16 league games last season.

Now, following this disappointment, West Brom have no choice but to fully turn their attentions elsewhere to another deal they are actively pursuing, with the Baggies in a hot contest with Southampton over the signature of French right-back Nolan Galves.

Galves, 23, has spent his entire career in France up until this point with both Sochaux and Rodez, as, according to Belgian journalist Sacha Talovieri via X, both Southampton and West Brom have reached an agreement with the French second-tier side for the signature of the defender.

No fee has been quoted at this stage, though it can be assumed that it is less than the £5 million that Wrexham have submitted to sign Imray, as Galves continues to weigh up his options ahead of his proposed move to England.

Championship rivals Millwall had reportedly submitted a bid for the Frenchman earlier on in the window, and it appeared to be a toss-up between Southampton and West Brom as his next destination, with Galves having since chosen the latter.

Having lost out on Imray, the Baggies have ensured that they have gotten this deal over the line; otherwise, they would have been forced to move on to Plan C, which is far from ideal at any stage during the transfer window.

The Saints will have had the financial advantage over West Brom, as well as having secured a place in the top six last season compared to West Brom finishing one point above the relegation zone, though Morrison's side may well have game time promises in their favour.

With no recognised right-back currently in their ranks, Galves would almost certainly arrive as the Scottish head coach's first choice in that position, whereas at Southampton, the Frenchman would've had to contend with James Bree for a place in the side.

With seven assists in 32 games in the French second tier last season, the 23-year-old would present a massive upgrade on anything West Brom currently have, and will be an excellent alternative to Imray.

It would have been a worst-case scenario had they missed out on Galves, having already missed out on Imray, as the Baggies' recruitment team would again have had to move on to other targets.

James Morrison will be delighted after beating Southampton to Nolan Galves' addition

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Having lost out on one of his primary targets in Imray to Wrexham, Morrison was forced to turn his attentions elsewhere, and has seemingly done so in the form of Galves, despite interest from Southampton.

He has done everything in his power to ensure West Brom were the side that came out on top in this deal; otherwise, another alternative would have had to have been found.

Losing out to Wrexham and Southampton would have been morale-destroying for the Baggies, who would have seen two of their division rivals preferred over themselves.