Micah Richards sends Idrissa Gueye message to Frank Lampard over Everton return

Sky Sports pundit Micah Richards believes if Everton manage to re-sign Paris-Saint German midfielder Idrissa Gueye this summer they will avoid another battle against relegation.

The Blues got their season off to a losing start as they went down 1-0 at home to Chelsea on Saturday, courtesy of a Jorginho penalty. But on an evening when Frank Lampard's side lined up without a recognised No.9, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin injured and Salomon Rondon suspended, there were positives to take.

However, Everton boss Lampard will know his squad needs further reinforcements - and not just up front. There have been reports today that the Blues are set to sign Conor Coady while Amadou Onana's move to Goodison Park is close.

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And Onana could be joined at Goodison Park by fellow midfielder Gueye, who spent spent three successful seasons with the club before joining PSG in the summer of 2019 for £30m.

The 32-year-old, who shared a dressing room with the Richards during the 2014/15 season at Aston Villa, was left out of the Parisians' squad for their 5-0 victory over Clermont Foot on Saturday as speculation surrounding a return to the Blues intensifies.

And former Manchester City and England full-back Richards believes his addition to Everton's ranks would suppress any fears they have of being embroiled in a relegation fight for the second consecutive season.

"If Everton get a deal done to bring Idrissa Gana Gueye back, there is not a hope of them being relegated," wrote Richards in his Daily Mail column. "I played with Idrissa at Aston Villa and he's a machine.

"He will do the work of two men — the running he can do is frightening. I saw him do a drill at Villa, during the middle of Ramadan and his stamina was breathtaking. He was literally running on empty but still beat everyone.

"I went to Goodison Park towards the end of last season and I still can't get over the atmosphere I witnessed. If Everton get their fans behind them and get Idrissa in midfield, they will be fine."

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