Simon Cowell has reportedly lined up a new ballad for Irish band Westlife.

The 50-year-old music mogul reportedly loved the track, called Shadows, which was written by AJ McLean and OneRepublic’s Ryan Tedder.

AJ said to British newspaper the Daily Star: “Ryan and I wrote the song for the new Backstreet album, but it didn’t make it.

“When Simon heard it he loved it, and initially wanted it to go on the Leona record. Then he decided, as it was more of a boyband song, it’d suit Westlife better.”

AJ added: “I’m a Simon Cowell fan. At one point he was saying he was such a big fan of us that he spoke to the American Idol producers about doing a show with all the hits of the Backstreet Boys.”