Former Chelsea defender Jason Cundy has been speaking about the club's decision to sell Enzo Fernandez and their failure to sign a replacement for the now Manchester City star
Enzo Fernandez celebrates
Enzo Fernandez has started well at Manchester City after departing Chelsea(Image: Richard Sellers/Sportsphoto/Allstar)
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Jason Cundy has admitted he "couldn't find a place" for Enzo Fernandez in Xabi Alonso's Chelsea setup but hopes his former club sign a midfielder with similar attributes to the Argentine.
Fernandez completed a record-breaking £125million move to Manchester City on transfer deadline day earlier in the month following a summer dominated by speculation over his future. The 25-year-old has made an impressive start after reuniting with former Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca at the Etihad Stadium, and scored his first goal for his new employers in Sunday's 5-3 win over Sunderland.
Chelsea granted Fernandez's wish with just hours of the transfer window remaining, with the Blues confident they would be able to source a replacement before the deadline. In Lamine Camara, it looked as if the west Londoners had found their man after agreeing a £47m deal with AS Monaco, only for the Ligue 1 club to pull the plug at the last minute.
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In turn, Alonso has been left rather short in the midfield department, especially with Moises Caicedo's early-season injury problems, until at least the January transfer window. Chelsea could revisit their search for a midfielder in the mid-season window, with the likes of Camara, Adam Wharton and Alex Scott still targets for the Blues hierarchy.
Speaking exclusively to football.london, former Chelsea centre-back Cundy understands why his old club cashed in on Fernandez but believes a future replacement should possess similar attributes to the Argentina international.
"Enzo in this shape, I couldn't find a place for him in this team," Cundy said. "So I understand why the club decided to move him on, and why he wanted to leave.
Enzo Fernandez
Enzo Fernandez departed Chelsea on bad terms(Image: Bruno Penas/Quality Sport Images)
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"In a 3-4-3, which predominantly he has played so far, I think we need a high-energy, physical player that can get around the pitch. Enzo has got a lot of qualities, but he can't get around the pitch.
"One thing he lacks is that 10-yard speed, he can't burst. He's got a lot of things that are great about his game but he doesn't have that energy where he can squeeze a gap quickly, five or 10 yards.
"I've seen Lavia do that but there's a concern about his history with injuries, I'm not sure Reece has got that under his bonnet either, Moises is injured.
Chelsea midfielder Moises Caicedo is struggling with a calf injury
Moises Caicedo is struggling with a calf injury(Image: Visionhaus)
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"There's a real gap in there at the minute. I think you need to go for someone like Enzo with a little bit more pace, a little bit more about him, a bit more energy, a bit more bite. Those players in general are harder to find."
Cundy was speaking on behalf of TENA Men, who sponsored the 2026 Prostate United launch event. Click here to find out more about Prostate Cancer UK’s football fundraising challenge visit.
The former Chelsea defender was diagnosed with testicular cancer at the age of 26 while playing for Ipswich Town. Cundy has urged men everywhere to go and get a test and for the 'stigma' to disappear.
"I've had testicular cancer," explained Cundy. "I think there's always going to be this barrier that men have to break down.
"Women have been brilliant at it over the years with breast cancer, and various other different cancers. I think there's still a little bit of a stigma [with men] attached.
"I've noticed a huge change from when I had testicular cancer in the 90s to where it is now, but that message still needs to get out there. It's about awareness and it's about knowing what to do and how to go about it.
"I'm 56, I had a PSA test done last year and it came back fine, but my levels had risen slightly and it was nothing to concern myself about. But there are men out there, my age, who haven't had a test and it's about firstly, knowing what to do and secondly, acting upon it.
"It's just about awareness. Any man listening to this right now, go and get yourself checked - what's the worst that can happen?
"It will take half an hour of your life. Historically, there has been a stigma attached because there is this persona that we are supposed to be who we are, we're men.
"That had to change over the last 50 years and I think it has changed. Partners as well; mums, dads, brothers, sisters, partners, kids - go and get yourself checked. What's the worst that can happen?"
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