Liam Payne reportedly seeks 'divorce lawyer' advice after unhappy Cheryl pushes for split

Despite Liam Payne and Cheryl having recently had a baby together, the couple are said to be on the verge of splitting up.

Having been together for two years, former One Directioner Liam, 24, and ex-Girls Aloud singer Cheryl, 34, had a baby boy, Bear, last March. But it appears that before he’s even reached his first birthday the pair might no longer be together as they’ve already held crisis talks.

The Sun on Sunday revealed the news that the celeb couple are destined to go their separate ways, saying that the pair would no longer be together if it wasn’t for the sake of their son.

According to sources, the 10-year age gap is proving an issue and driving the pair apart. ‘There’s a big age gap between them,’ says the insider. ‘If they didn’t have Bear then they would have most likely split up by now.’

‘But they love their son. And they do care for each other so it’s now a matter of seeing if there’s a final way forward to try and make it work.’

Another strain is that Liam is away touring – at present promoting new single For You with Rita Ora – while Cheryl is left at home holding the baby, as it were. ‘Obviously, she supported me going off and doing my career and stuff, so she’s been amazing,’ the former boyband member said.

‘What I’ve learnt about being a dad is how hard it is to be a mum, and she hasn’t had any help from anybody and she’s done it all herself.’

‘He is away a lot. She knew he would be away a lot for work but the actual reality is tough,’ reveals the source.

Those close to the couple also insist that their relationship hasn’t deteriorated due to blazing rows or accusations of affairs, and even spent Valentine’s Day together.

The Sun are also claiming Liam has called in ‘divorce lawyers’, despite the pair not being married, in order to protect his assets if they do split up. ‘Liam has sought some legal advice but he still wants to make it work. It’s sensible to be prepared for all options.’

‘With a young son and a number of assets between them there is more to breaking up than just parting ways. He hopes it doesn’t come to it but he’s just being careful,’ they say.

It wasn’t long ago that Liam was gushing over his new family but it seems things have gone downhill since then, regardless of the joy Bear has brought them.

While it’s unlikely his £54 million fortune will come into question, if they are no longer together there will be the issue of paying maintenance for Bear and the couple also share a £5.1 million home together. Yet in a bizarre twist people started to speculate whether they were engaged, after Cheryl was recently spotted wearing a diamond ring during a Royal engagement.

Yahoo Celebrity has reached out to both Liam and Cheryl for comment.

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