Everton ‘target shock FOUR-MAN transfer raid on Chelsea including Ross Barkley return and Michy Batshuayi move’

EVERTON are lining up a QUADRUPLE transfer raid on Chelsea, according to reports.

The Toffees are looking to add names to their beleaguered squad ahead of the new season as they attempt to steer clear of relegation.

This has led them to identify as many as four Chelsea players who could be available.

The first is former Evertonian Ross Barkley, who left the club in 2018 to join The Blues.

The transfer has not panned out exactly as the midfielder would have hoped, as he has been limited to a bit part role throughout his time at Stamford Bridge.

Consequently, Thomas Tuchel has deemed the 33-cap England international to be surplus to requirements, as per the .

Another fringe star at Chelsea, Michy Batshuayi, is also said to be in discussions with Everton.

Both of these stars would be likely to leave on permanent transfers to free up wages according to , while two Chelsea youngsters remain on Everton's list but are unlikely to be allowed to leave permanently.

Midfielder Billy Gilmour is the first of these.

Frank Lampard gave the Scot his senior team debut while the manager of Chelsea and is understood to still be a big admirer of his qualities despite his struggles at Norwich last season.

The 21-year-old has not been given a shirt number ahead of the new season, fuelling speculation over his future with Chelsea.

Meanwhile, the last - and arguably most ambitious - of Everton's Chelsea targets is Armando Broja.

The Albanian starred at Southampton on loan last season and has been the subject of intense interest from a number of clubs this summer.

West Ham had been the front-runners at one stage, but their £30million acquisition of Italian Gianluca Scamacca has seen their interest dissipate.

But if Everton are to land the forward they will need to beat Real Madrid and Newcastle in the race to sign him.

Everton have already added Burnley duo James Tarkowski and Dwight McNeil to their ranks this summer, but look set to miss out on Maxwel Cornet as Newcastle prepare to trigger his £17.5m release clause.

The Toffees are also said to be in talks to re-sign midfielder Idrissa Gueye.

Lampard's team won 4-0 in a 'peace friendly' against Dynamo Kyiv yesterday as they honoured super-fan Paul Stratton by allowing him to take a penalty in recognition of his humanitarian efforts on the border of the Russia-Ukraine conflict.