SIMON COWELL plans to sign X Factor runner-up Fleur East despite her missing out on lifting the winner's crown on last night's show (Dec 14).
The 27-year-old, from Walthamstow, east London, wowed the Cowell - and the public - with her dancing and singing prowess on the ITV 1 show, but narrowly missed out on victory against fellow contestant Ben Haenow.
However, a source claims that Cowell, who was her celebrity mentor on the show, "made the decision to sign Fleur after last week's semi-final."
They told The Daily Star: "He would love her to be crowned champion but he will give her a record deal whatever happens."
East apparently sealed the deal when she performed her rendition of Mark Ronson and Bruno Mars song, Uptown Funk, which she performed again last night.
Commenting on her performance, Cowell said: "Oh. My. God. You know what? Of all the finalists I've ever had, that was the greatest performance I've ever witnessed. I am torn. I'd like to split the prize and give you both the award for winning the X Factor."
Sources claim that Cowell, who was integral in the success of mentee and former X Factor winner, Leona Lewis, thinks East could be 'a British Rihanna'.
When speaking to the newspaper, he didn't go out of his way to deny the claims that he's already decided to sign her.
He said: "Based on what I saw last week, I'd have to say Fleur really has the potential to be huge if she was given material as good as Uptown Funk.
"I've never seen such a reaction to a song in my life. It was unbelievable. The original is fantastic but what she did with it is incredible. It was almost perfection. She could sing and dance and put on a show and we haven't seen anyone like that in a long time."
Meanwhile, East was gracious in defeat writing on Twitter: "What an amazing experience! Thank you to everyone who supported me! Congratulations to @Bhaenow- such a lovely guy!x"