Wrexham are closing in on their first signing of the summer, and it's a significant one. Crystal Palace fullback Danny Imray is set to join the Red Dragons for around £5 million, with the deal expected to be completed within days.
The 23-year-old has never played a competitive minute for Palace's first team, but that's almost beside the point. His loan record tells the real story: a solid full season in League Two, a strong first half at League One side Blackpool, and then a January recall followed by a move to Championship club West Brom. Palace don't pull players mid-season unless they're genuinely impressed.
What Imray brings — and what his arrival costs others
Wrexham spent last season rotating Aaron James, Ryan Barnett, and Ryan Longman at right wingback, and none of them fully nailed down the role. Phil Parkinson clearly decided that wasn't good enough for another Championship campaign. Imray is pace-based, attack-minded, and — crucially — still developing. That combination is exactly what you want if you're a club with genuine promotion ambitions.
His arrival isn't just an addition. James is being lined up for a loan exit, while Barnett is expected to leave the club entirely. Longman stays as backup. The squad mathematics are clean, at least on paper.
There's an intriguing subplot here too. Imray is eligible to represent Trinidad and Tobago internationally, a country with genuine Wrexham history — Denis Lawrence became the club's first World Cup representative when he turned out for T&T in 2006. Whether that thread goes anywhere at international level remains a separate conversation, but it adds texture to the signing.
What it means for the betting picture
Wrexham finished seventh last season, just outside the playoffs. Adding a dynamic, high-upside wingback with Championship experience addresses one of their clearest weaknesses from that campaign. Anyone looking at Wrexham's promotion odds should factor in that this squad is being upgraded with purpose, not just bodies.
At £5 million, Imray is a real investment for a club at this level. The expectation isn't just that he contributes next season — it's that he develops into a Premier League-ready player if Wrexham get there. That's a lot of faith in a player yet to play top-flight football. Whether he justifies it is the question that makes this one worth watching.
