Cheryl: “I don’t want Liam to leave me behind”

As they’re set to record their respective albums, pals say Cheryl is worried Liam Payne’s imminent solo success could see their romance hit a rocky patch

The hype T around Cheryl’s boyfriend Liam Payne’s solo career reached fever pitch last week after it was revealed he was putting ballads aside and collaborating with grime artists – news that made global headlines.

In stark contrast, Justin Bieber’s shock revelation the previous week that he was

going to record with Cheryl, 33, barely garnered any column inches.

LEFT BEHIND

As the couple prepare to work on their respective albums in LA, pals say there’s trouble brewing in paradise for the first time. Cheryl is concerned Liam’s solo album will be such a huge success that he’ll be pulled away with work and she’ll be left trailing in his wake.

A source says: “Cheryl is very supportive of Liam’s career and wants the best for him. However she’s secretly paranoid that when he’s back in the spotlight doing promotional work she’ll fade into the background and they won’t be on an equal footing any more.

“She’s already torn over breaking the States again and making new music. Liam is helping to open doors for her, but she fears it’s not enough.”

Cheryl and Liam’s romance, which went public in February, is the first time the singer has been involved with someone more famous than her – Liam, 22, achieved global fame with One Direction.

POWER STRUGGLE

Cheryl was ruling the charts with Girls Aloud when she began dating footballer Ashley Cole in 2004, and she became the nation’s sweetheart in 2010 before their divorce, thanks to The X Factor. She went on to have romances with US dancers Derek Hough and Tre Holloway, before her marriage to unknown Frenchman Jean-bernard Fernandez-versini in 2014 – who was spotted hanging out with Hollywood star Gerard Butler last week.

A source adds: “Cheryl isn’t used to being the less famous one in a relationship. She’s accustomed to having everything revolve around her, so she’s struggling with the power dynamic in this relationship.”

Cheryl’s last single, Only Human, peaked at number 70 in the charts in 2014 – her lowest charting single ever. And pals say that after quitting The X Factor this year she’s now piling on the pressure to make her next move a success. A source adds: “Cheryl has ambitions to do grime music too, like Liam, but she’s terrified she’ll flop. She’s struggling with her career – battling what she’d love to do with what she is being offered. Even with Liam helping her, it’s her biggest challenge.

“Cheryl knows she’s becoming needy with Liam in terms of her career, and she’s worried that if she can’t seem to be able to do her own thing without his help then it could ruin their relationship.”