Former One Direction star Zayn Malik could be set to leave long-time mentor Simon Cowell after being offered a big money deal by 50 Cent. He is rumored to be on the verge of quitting Cowell's SyCo label to sign a new deal with the US rap giant in a bid to achieve his dreams of becoming an RnB artist.

Zayn has remained with Syco since quitting the One Direction band in March this year.

But according to the Sunday Mirror, 50 Cent suggested to Zayn that working with X Factor boss Simon's record label "lacks credibility" in hiphop.

The 39-year-old American musician is set to meet up with Malik in July to discuss a deal about launching his solo carreer as a rapper.

"I want it to happen. I can make him a lot of money and he can make me a lot of money. The point I am making is he needs to be working with the right producers, artists, and people in the genre," he explained.

"Some of the pop star rappers are a little cringe-inducing, and he doesn't want that."

The estimated 50 Cent net worth is about $155 million according to Forbes. The majority of his net worth comes from his business ventures which include G-Unit Records and a clothing range in the same name, as well as working as a boxing promoter alongside pal Floyd Mayweather.

The rapper and the former 1D singer have met several times before, including at the iHeart Radio event in Las Vegas back in September 2014.

"If Zayn Malik wants a rap career, just because of who he is, he is going to sell records... But if he wants to be credible he has to be with the right people," 50 Cent said to The Sun.

"I'd happily sign him up to my label, mentor him and have him working with the biggest rappers on the planet."

Malik has already started work on solo material with producer friend Naughty Boy. He famously quit One Direction to become a 'normal 22-year-old,' however, he was seen out and about with fiancee Perrie Edwards and her band Little Mix in Leeds during the promotional tour for their new single Black Magic.