CHERRIES and Crystal Palace are continuing to monitor Leeds United left-back Tom Pearce, according to the Yorkshire Evening Post.

The 20-year-old rising star agreed a new four-year contract with the Championship club some three weeks before the expiry of his current deal.

Had Leeds allowed Pearce's contract to run down, he would have been able to move on for a compensation fee.

The Yorkshire Post reported that the youngster's breakthrough – five appearances in the final two months of last season – had "attracted the interest" of Cherries and Palace.

Pearce has been at Leeds since departing Everton's academy at the age of 16. He was part of the England under-21 squad which won the Toulon Tournament and was a team-mate of ex-Leeds midfielder and Cherries star Lewis Cook.