Louis Walsh has spoken to Ed Sheeran about penning songs for Westlife’s comeback album.
The ‘Flying Without Wings’ group’s manager is determined to make Shane Filan, Mark Feehily, Nicky Byrne and Kian Egan’s music popular again, and has called upon some of the industry’s biggest stars to get involved, including the ‘Shape of You’ hitmaker and ‘X Factor’ alumni James Arthur.
The 65-year-old Irishman told Th Sun newspaper: "I’ve already spoken to people about writing songs for them. Two in particular are Ed Sheeran and James Arthur. I’ve talked to both of them already.
"I want to give them notice to write some really good songs."
It comes after Louis said a Westlife reunion will happen – but without Brian McFadden.
The ‘X Factor’ judge wants the "Fab Four", Shane, Mark, Nicky and Kian to be involved in any reformation, not the 37-year-old singer – who left the band in 2004 to pursue solo projects – despite Brian saying "never say never" to rejoining his former bandmates in the future.
Louis said recently: "Brian won’t be involved, it will be the Fab Four. Totally.
"The four of them just see them themselves as Westlife."
The entertainment professional said he wants it to be just the four of them because they’ll be "happy", and said it’s more convenient considering three of them all live in the same town.
When asked if Brian begged to be included, Louis replied: "No, I prefer a happy band and four happy people.
"They all know each other, they all respect each other.
"Three of them live in the same town in Sligo, so it makes more sense."
It comes after Shane said a reunion "could happen" in the future.
The 38-year-old singer gets asked if the band will get back together all the time and his honest answer was that he "doesn’t know," but he’ll never say never.
Asked if he thinks the group – who disbanded in 2012 – will reunite one day, Shane exclusively told BANG Showbiz: "The Westlife question I get asked all the time.
"The honest truth is I don’t know. It could happen someday, of course there is a chance, but there is also a chance that it might not."
The chart-topping band sold over 50 million records worldwide during their career spanning 14 years.
Louis Walsh has asked Ed Sheeran to pen songs for Westlife
