Fake? Cheryl Cole and Derek Hough (pictured in LA last week) have been inseprable for months, but her friend Amir Khan says it is a 'cover-up'There has been 'are they or aren't they' speculation for months, but even sceptics were beginning to wonder if that the relationship between Cheryl Cole and Derek Hough was the real thing.
He remained by her side constantly throughout her battle with malaria, and they have been pictured together constantly since she flew out to LA to be by his side.
But while there is little doubt that they are extremely close, Cheryl's friend, the boxer Amir Khan, has disclosed that the relationship is a 'cover -up' encouraged by the pair to ward off the paparazzi.
'I had dinner with Cheryl and Derek in LA last week,' the 23-year-old told Grazia magazine.
'He's not her boyfriend. They're not going out. It's all just a cover-up to keep photographers at bay.'
Loud mouth: The boxer says he dined with Cheryl and Derek in LA last weekThe 25-year-old dancer's sudden appearance as Cheryl's closest friend and confidant as her marriage to Ashley Cole broke down was earlier dismissed as platonic.
He was widely believed to be gay - a claim he has denied - and the pair have never been spotted holding hands or kissing.
But after their last-minute getaway to Tanzania in June, and his move into her home during her recovery from malaria, it appeared as though their romance was definitely on.
Last week X Factor choreographer Brian Friedman 'confirmed' they were an item, saying 'A lovely couple. They're very cute together.'
But Grazia quotes an 'impeccably placed source' in Cheryl's camp who insists that the pair are just good friends.
'Derek has helped her get her life back on track, and has shown her how a woman should be treated by a man,' says the source, who claims Derek is 'more like one of her girlfriends.'
'He's even bought her self-help books to help regain her confidence and encourages her to do affirmations to regain her self-belief.
'They love curling up and watching DVDs together and giggling over romantic comedies, but while Derek has been a really positive influence in her life, they're simply friends. Nothing more.'
Security blanket: Khan says Cheryl, 27, has kept up the pretense of a relationship to 'ward off photographers''They care deeply about one another,' says the magazine's source, 'but it really is just platonic.'
Amir Khan has also revealed that 'Cheryl won't move to LA unless she gets a contract as a judge on the U.S. X Factor.'
The Geordie star, 27, is preparing to head back to London to resume her UK X Factor duties next month. And according to the Sun, she is looking to downsize from her Surrey mansion to a chic West London pad.
The newspaper reports that the Parachute singer will place the £3.5 million property on the market as soon as her divorce from Ashley Cole is finalised.
'More like one of her girlfriends': A source says Derek and Cheryl are 'just good friends' and like to curl up and watch romantic comedies togetherCheryl and the Chelsea player bought the house in October 2007, but earlier this year property experts predicted that the sale of the property would result in a £300,000 loss, as its value has dropped to £3.25 million.
But Cheryl may not mind the potential losses, in her haste to rid herself of the home where she recovered after her hospitalisation in July, and where she hid out when the allegations of Ashley's infidelities broke.
The house was also targeted by thieves in February, reportedly after the singer's wedding rings, but they were sprung by Ashley, who was home at the time.
The historic property was used during World War II to house Canadian troops preparing for the D-Day landings.
A source told the newspaper: 'Cheryl is selling up. She's already looking for a new home, but it will be a lot smaller than what she has now. She doesn't need a huge estate.'
Selling up: The X Factor judge is reportedly selling her £3.5 million Surrey marital home with Ashley Cole to move to a new West London homesource: dailyamil
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