If you're a betting person, now is the time to put money on Zayn Malik being the first member of One Direction to leave the band.

It may not happen today, it may not happen tomorrow…. but it's beginning to look increasingly likely that the teen idol will strike out on his own ahead of his bandmates.

It was recently announced that Malik will appear solo on the new Naughty Boy album - and now it seems that 50 Cent has offered him a place on his label roster, should he want it.

Fiddy told The Sun newspaper that it was important for Malik to forge a solo career surrounded by the right people, and that he could offer that with his G-Unit label.

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

Understandably, some Directioners have reacted angrily to his offer (some tweets with NSFW language below):

 TO 50 CENT: ZAYN MALIK WILL NOT JOIN YOU MOTHERF***KER F OFF. #KCA #Vote1DUK