Different directions! Niall Horan 'snubs Simon Cowell's Syco label to sign with Universal in mega solo album deal'
It appears Niall Horan and Simon Cowell are going in two different directions.
The 22-year-old has snubbed his mentor by signing a 'mega solo album deal' with Universal Music, according to the Daily Star.
'This will come as a real blow to Cowell who has been talking to Niall for months, wanting him to sign a deal with his label Syco,' the paper quoted a US source.
'He made a number of big money offers to try and persuade Niall to sign up but, in the end, Universal came in and put even more money on the table.
'They're chuffed to have got one over on Cowell and have taken one of 1D,' the insider said.
The report claimed Universal's subsidiary label Capitol had originally been expecting to do a solo deal with Horan's bandmate Harry Styles.
But when the 22-year-old decided remain loyal to Sony - which owns the other half of Syco - the rival label reportedly turned its sights on the Irishman.
'Universal said they would pay Niall whatever it took,' the source said. 'They heard his solo music and they all think it's got good potential.'
'Cowell will be unhappy about it. But Niall's thrilled. He's been telling pals he is really excited about his new music and this solo deal.
'It's anyone's guess where this decision leaves One Direction now,' they added.
A representative for Syco declined to comment on the report.
Meanwhile the Sun on Sunday reported Horan has recruited Adele's writer and producer Greg Kurstin to work on his solo album.
'Niall wrote with One Direction but he's got a real talent, and the bosses are hoping to make the most of that by teaming him up with some brilliant people,' a source claimed.
'He wants to move away from boyband stuff and show what he can do, and he's being doing some great work with Greg, among others.
'There was a worry at first that because he came from a manufactured band, he wouldn't be taken seriously.
'But people are queuing around the block to record with him. It's early days, but this record looks like it could really be something special.'
One Direction are currently on an indefinite hiatus and Niall's bandmates are all hard at work on solo projects.
Liam Payne has signed a solo deal with Capitol UK, while Styles - who recently finished filming Christopher Nolan's 'Dunkirk' is believed to have an $80m deal with Columbia, which is owned by Sony.
Louis Tomlinson is believed to be planning to focus on his record label during the break, and he recently teamed up with Cowell to launch a new girl group, who Simon says are 'as good as I have ever heard'.
