Sunderland are reportedly keen on a loan move for Leeds United full-back Tom Pearce.
Football league World report that the Black Cats, as well as League One rivals Portsmouth, are preparing late loan offers for the 21-year-old.
Championship side Barnsley remain favourites to sign the former England under-21 international defender on a permanent basis but a source close to the player has confirmed an agreement remains 'some way off', according to the report.
As a result, Sunderland and Portsmouth are 'weighing up' a loan move for the youngster.
Jack Ross is known to be in the market for a left-back to provide competition for young star Denver Hume. Reece James swapped Sunderland for Doncaster this summer while Bryan Oviedo was allowed to leave for free to reduce the club's wage budget. He has since hooked up with Danish champions FC Copenhagen.
Pearce has League One experience under his belt having spent the second half of last season on loan at Scunthorpe United.
A product of Everton's academy, Pearce made the move to Leeds in 2014. He has made 10 senior appearances for the Whites during that time.
Pearce is not part of Leeds manager Marcelo Bielsa's plans and he would like the situation resolved before tomorrow's 5pm transfer deadline for Championship clubs.
