Premier League giants Chelsea are set to buy Kingsmeadow football stadium from AFC Wimbledon – if the Dons’ bid to build a new ground in Merton are approved.

But fears have been raised that the deal would leave non-league Kingstonian – who also play at Kingsmeadow - without a home.

A statement released on Tuesday by AFC Wimbledon owners The Dons Trust admitted the club had been in talks with the Premier League leaders.

It said: "The Dons Trust, owners of AFC Wimbledon, can confirm that the club has been in discussions with a number of organisations, including Chelsea Football Club, over the future of Kingsmeadow, should our club's proposal to move to a new stadium in Wimbledon be approved by Merton Council.

"These discussions are confidential and each proposal is being thoroughly evaluated to ensure it provides the best outcome for the area and the club.

"Kingston Council and Kingstonian FC, of course, have been briefed about the discussions."

The statement added any change of ownership of Kingsmeadow would need to be approved by members of the Dons Trust.

It has been a long held ambition of AFC Wimbledon’s to move back to their spiritual home of Merton ever since the club formed in 2002, following the original Wimbledon FC's relocation to Milton Keynes.

AFC Wimbledon bought Kingsmeadow in 2003 from Kingstonian's controversial former chairman Rajesh Khosla, for a reported £2.5m.

In return, the Ks have been allowed to stay at the ground as tenants, rent-free.

In November last year, AFC Wimbledon submitted proposals for an 11,000-seat arena at the site of the greyhound stadium in Plough Lane - a stone's throw from the previous Wimbledon's former home.

However, a source close to the Kingsmeadow negotiations has claimed a deal has already been struck between the Dons and Chelsea, should the football stadium plans be approved.

They said: "Finances [have been] agreed. The price has already been agreed for when planning permission is received for the dog track."

The source also claimed Chelsea planned to use the stadium as home ground for the club's youth and women's teams - and that Kingstonian could be forced to relocate elsewhere.

Reacting to the news, Sam Elliott, news editor of the Non-League Paper, tweeted: "Imperative that if @AFCWimbledon do sell Kingsmeadow to Chelsea or whoever, a clause for Kingstonian to remain is inserted into any contract."

But Kingstonian co-chairman Malcolm Winwright said: "We are all aware that there are developments and we are talking to AFC Wimbledon on a regular basis.

"We have to wait and see what happens - there is a lot of conjecture going around and it isn't very helpful. "We are comfortable about everything that's happening at the moment."