Former world number one golfer and Nottingham Forest fan Lee Westwood believes Aston Villa are "getting what they deserve" over Henri Lansbury’s contract wrangle.
The seven-time Ryder Cup winner issued a blunt response following reports the former Reds midfielder rejected Villa's offer of a pay-off on reduced terms after failing to make Dean Smith's 25-man Premier League squad.
The midfielder remains on a £40,000-plus a-week contract which has eight months left to run.
Earlier this month Villa reached pay-off agreements with two other fringe players - Jota and Orjan Nyland - to rip up their contracts ahead of their deals expiring in June 2021.
Lansbury, meanwhile, failed to secure a move away from Villa Park in the transfer window and reportedly turned down a pay-off, meaning he will sit out his deal until next summer.
Westwood said "can't have it both ways" referencing the time when then-boss Steve Bruce signed Lansbury in January 2017 for just £2.75million on a bumper contract - just five months before he could have left Forest for free.
Westwood wrote on Twitter: "[Villa] offered him over the odds to prise him away from Forest. Getting just what they deserve now. Can’t have it both ways."
Westwood was then asked why Lansbury would give up a secured Premier League contract given the ongoing pandemic.
He replied: “I would. “You’re retired a long time” one wise man once told me. He’ll never get his playing days back. For me it just highlights how frustrating football has become. Clubs, players, agents. Greed.
The 47-year-old, who has banked more than $34 million in career earnings, added: "I’m used to having to rely on my talent and performances day to day to get paid. Golfers are basically on pay as you play, not a guaranteed weekly wage."
Westwood’s comments were picked up by Villa's former operations director Steve Stride, who said: "Strange argument Lee. Have you club never paid a player over the odds to entice him to leave his current club? I can think of many in Clough's day."
