ENZO MARESCA’S first game as Chelsea boss is set to be a local derby at League Two Wimbledon.
The two clubs have arranged a pre-season friendly for next month at The Dons’ Plough Lane ground in South West London.
Relations between the two neighbours remain close after Chelsea’s women’s team moved into Wimbledon’s former Kingsmeadow Stadium in 2020.
Maresca signed a five year contract to become new Chelsea boss this week and is currently on holiday.
The Premier League team is also embarking on a five-match tour of the United States between July 24 & 26.
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They will play Wrexham, Celtic, Club America , Manchester City and Real Madrid on the tour.
But before that Maresca will make his debut in the modern but modest surroundings of Wimbledon’s new 9,000 seater ground before heading off across the Atlantic.
It is hoped the match will be a sell-out but it is unclear at present which Chelsea first team players will be on parade given that the Euro 2024 final is not until July 14.
As the transfer window opens, SunSport revealed Kepa Arrizabalaga will seek talks with Maresca as he faces up to an uncertain future.
The Spanish keeper's loan at Real Madrid is up after he slipped to third in the reckoning behind Ukrainian Andriy Lunin and fit-again Thibaut Courtois.
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Kepa, 29, has just one season left on the world record £72.1 million deal that took him to Chelsea in 2018 but is now at a crossroads.
There may be a chance of staying in Madrid with no2 stopper Lunin unhappy at being overlooked for last weekend's Champions League final and open to offers to move.
The arrival of new man Maresca at Stamford Bridge also means there may be a way back into the Premier League - but Kepa would only return if he gets guarantees of game time.
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That would require a heart-to-heart with new Chelsea head coach Maresca when the Italian returns from holiday.
