Chelsea in talks with AFC Wimbledon over potential pre-season friendly at Plough Lane in July – which could be incoming manager Enzo Maresca’s first game in charge

Chelsea are in talks with AFC Wimbledon over playing a potential friendly at Plough Lane next month in what could be Enzo Maresca’s first game in charge. 

Mail Sport has learned the Premier League club are working on squeezing in the as-yet-unconfirmed fixture with their League Two opponents before flying out for their pre-season tour of the United States. 

Chelsea are set to play five matches in the US this summer – against Wrexham, Celtic, Club America, Manchester City and Real Madrid between July 24 and August 6. Maresca is keen to make sure his possession-based brand of football is fully understood by his Chelsea squad ahead of the next season.

The Italian, 44, was confirmed as Mauricio Pochettino’s successor on Monday and has started his preparations while on holiday in Marbella, studying previous matches and analysing player performance data provided by the club at his request.

It remains to be seen which Chelsea players would be available if the friendly with Wimbledon is agreed as expected, with the final of Euro 2024 falling on July 14. 

The match could be incoming manager Enzo Maresca’s (pictured) first game in charge 

It is uncertain which Chelsea stars will be available for the friendly, with the Euro 2024 final taking place on July 14

Stars such as Cole Palmer and Conor Gallagher will hope for a long run at that tournament if selected by Gareth Southgate, whose final 26-man squad for England needs to be named by this Friday. 

They would be entitled to an extended break before resuming club duties, while Gallagher is also at the centre of a transfer tussle with Aston Villa, Atletico Madrid and Tottenham all admirers of the midfielder who Chelsea will only let leave for more than £50million. 

Maresca signed a five-year contract with the option of a sixth after joining Chelsea from Leicester, who will receive a compensation package worth around £10m in return.

The tactician took over as the frontrunner to succeed Pochettino after outlining his vision to co-sporting directors Paul Winstanley and Laurence Stewart, which included how he sees Chelsea controlling games under him. 

Stars including Conor Gallagher (pictured) will be hoping for a long run at Euro 2024 

Maresca (pictured) is preparing for his first season at the highest level as a head coach 

The next season will be Maresca’s first at the highest level as a head coach after managing Leicester in the Championship and Parma in Serie B. 

He previously worked as an assistant to Pep Guardiola at Manchester City, which Chelsea counted as the vital Premier League experience they wanted their next coach to have.