Ed Sheeran has nine songs "he really likes" that might end up on his next record.
The 26-year-old star released his recording-breaking LP ‘Divide’ in March, but has already written around 40 songs for the follow-up, though only a handful are in the running for the final cut.
He said: "I’ve got a rough outline of it – I’ve probably got about nine songs that I really like.
"But that could all change tomorrow if I think of nine new songs to replace them.
"There are about forty that I wrote I haven’t used but nine I really like."
Meanwhile, the ‘Shape of You’ hitmaker said that he would like to tour with a full band eventually instead of just him, his guitar and his loop pedal.
Asked by Time Out London magazine if he’ll add more musicians to his shows, he said: "There’s definitely a chance. I think I’ll always have a loop pedal in the show but I think I’ll grow a band around it.
"I think that’s where it’s heading – making a show with lots of different moments where maybe there are two songs with a band and then one song in the middle with the pedal.
"There’ll be all sorts of different things but I think that’s still five years away.
"I want to play stadiums everywhere using the pedal and once I’ve done that then I’ll go to a band."
Ed returned to the studio amidst his American tour in September.
The British star was on the road with his pal James Blunt, and the latter recently said they may get to work together after the tour finishes.
Ed co-wrote ‘Make Me Better’ on the ‘Don’t Give Me Those Eyes’ hitmaker’s latest record ‘The Afterlove’.
Asked if he’ll collaborate with Ed again, James exclusively told BANG Showbiz: "I really enjoyed writing with Ed. Let’s wait it out and see, I think we are enjoying touring at the moment.
"I think both of us are not necessarily in full writing mode at the moment, but we’ll see."
With ‘Divide’, Ed was the first artist to ever hold all top five positions in the Official UK chart, with all 16 of the tracks from record making it into the top 20.
His next studio venture has been heavily-tipped to be titled ‘Subtract’ – following the pattern of his three previous records, ‘Divide’, ‘Multiply’, and ‘Plus’.
The titles of his future albums are already tattooed on his body.
He said recently: "It’s kind of like ‘Prison Break’. It’s all there."
Ed Sheeran has nine songs he likes for next album
