Ed Sheeran could trump Coldplay for fastest-selling album of 2014 ahead of Glastonbury set

X, featuring number one single 'Sing', has already sold nearly 100,000 copies

Ed Sheeran - X

Ed Sheeran’s meteoric rise doesn’t look set to stop anytime soon – the "Sing" vocalist is on course to have the fastest -selling album of 2014.

Nearly 100,000 copies of Sheeran’s new album, X, have been purchased in the UK since its release on 23 June, according to the Official Charts Company.

And if the impressive sales continue, Sheeran could take the crown from this year’s current record-holders Coldplay, whose album Ghost Stories sold 168,000 copies during its first week of release in May.

Sheeran is set to take to the stage at Glastonbury on Sunday. His appearance at the musical extravaganza will follow that of country and western legend Dolly Parton - but Sheeran could soon be making his own mark on musical history.

X, which features number one single Sing, is a follow-up to Sheeran’s debut album, +, which sold 102,000 copies in its opening week (1.8 million copies to date).

Also taking to the stage at Glastonbury are headliners Metallica, Kasabian and Arcade Fire with other major acts on the bill including the Black Keys, Massive Attack and Pixies.

Revellers arrived at the Somerset farm in their thousands yesterday, after the gates officially opened for the five-day music festival.