Martin Laursen believes Villa are right to stick to their guns over wantaway captain Gareth Barry.
Boss Martin O’Neill has now put a proposal to the Reds believed to include a player in a bid to accelerate Barry’s departure to Anfield.
O’Neill is thought to want £18m for the England international, but Laursen, who is one of the players vying to succeed Barry as Villa skipper, believes Barry’s record deserves the price tag.
“Gareth has played some wonderful football for 10 years for this club, is a great player and a regular for the England squad,” said Laursen.
“He’s done brilliantly for the last two years. That’s why his price is higher now.
“It’s sad it’s ending the way it is for a player that has done so much for this club.
“I can only say that I am sad the fans are angry with him now because they have to remember how much he has done for the club and he has been a really good player.
“With his quality and the goals he has scored, I don’t think the fans should forget that. I hope they will keep that in mind.”
Laursen has urged Villa fans not to berate Barry over his on-off move to Liverpool.
“Of course, I understand the fans want to keep their best players,” said Laursen. “But we’re talking about a guy who has been here for 10 years, played over 300 games for the club, became the youngest player in the Premier League to play 300 games.”
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