Simon Cowell 'wants Cheryl Cole back on X Factor USA'
The show boss will offer the Girls Aloud star a multi-year contract to return to the Fox series, from which she was sacked in 2011, according to Metro.
PA Images / Yui Mok/PA Archive
Simon Cowell and Cheryl Cole
Reports claimed last month that Cole may be entering into talks about a return to the US version of the show. It was rumoured that her comeback could be part of a settlement following her $2.3m (1.5m) lawsuit against executives following her dismissal.
Cole was hired as part of the original panel alongside Cowell, LA Reid and Paula Abdul when the show launched two years ago but was fired and replaced with Nicole Scherzinger.
A source said: "This is a massive move from Simon. He's going right out there and saying that he made a mistake in sacking her.
Original 'X Factor' USA hosts and panel in 2011
"After she was shunted off the show, TV critics in the US said in reviews that she was the best thing about the programme - and it seems for once that Simon was wrong."
Abdul and Scherzinger both left the series after one season and were replaced by Britney Spears and Demi Lovato in 2012. However, at the end of the last series both Spears and Reid announced their decisions to move on from the programme.
"Over the past two seasons, the US X Factor hasn't performed as Simon would have wanted - now it looks like Cheryl will be the saviour," the source added.
Last year's panel: LA Reid, Britney Spears, Demi Lovato and Simon Cowell
Reports suggest that Cole's new contract would be far more lucrative than her original 1.1 million (approximately $1.6m) deal.
"He's planning to put a massive contract on the table in the coming weeks, giving her the opportunity to return and prove him wrong once and for all," said the insider.
"Obviously, there's no certainty that she will decide to go for it, but it appears to be the closest right now to Cheryl returning to the X Factor family."
Cole's spokesperson has already dismissed suggestions that she will make a comeback to the UK series later this year. Digital Spy readers chose the 'Call My Name' star as their pick for this year's panel ahead of names like Sharon Osbourne and Mel B.