Ed Sheeran worried about Adele battle

Ed Sheeran is worried about competing against Adele.

The 24-year-old singer's record label want him to release his third album in September 2016, which would put him up against the 'Hello hitmaker at the 2017 Grammys and Ed admitted he is considering pushing back the release so he doesn't have to compete with Adele.

Adele, 27, will release her long-awaited third album 25 on November 20.

Speaking to Billboard, Ed explained: "Adele is releasing her album in the same Grammy category. I don't know if I'm brave enough to go up against her."

However, right now Ed is still working on the album and has been recording with Dr. Luke protege Benny Blanco, who joined him on tour with a mobile studio.

Ed said: "We'll do one song at midday, one song at 5 p.m. and then one song after the show, usually. If I didn't have Benny forcing me to write a song, or three songs, a day, I'd just watch DVDs. But because he's there and paid money for his tour bus and taken time out of his schedule - he could be working with Rihanna or whoever! - you feel obliged. So it proves really beneficial."

Ed also spoke about his friendship Taylor Swift, acknowledging that it is unusual.

The 'Bloodstream' hitmaker doesn't think it is very common for two such successful artists to have a close bond, rather than being rivals.

He said: "It's quite a weird thing for the number one and number two biggest-selling artists in the world to be close friends. I don't think that happens a lot."