Leeds United remain well on course to win a long-awaited promotion back into the Premier League under the management of Marcelo Bielsa this term. 

The Whites are currently sat top of the Championship table, and are seven points clear of third-placed Fulham heading into the final nine matches of this year's campaign, although recent off-the-field events have delayed that push for a return to the top-flight.

One player that has played a key role in their promotion push this season is Patrick Bamford, who has scored 13 goals in 38 appearances for the Whites.

Bamford has been with the club since signing from Middlesbrough in the summer of 2018 for an undisclosed fee.

Speaking in a Q&A with Leeds' official Twitter account, Bamford revealed how his move to Leeds United came about in the first place.

"It was actually quite strange. I thought I was staying at Middlesbrough and I knew that Forest had originally put a bid in. Aitor (Karanka) was there and used to manage me at Middlesbrough. But Middlesbrough had basically put a stupid figure on it which was double what Leeds ended up paying for me so I think there was something weird going on there!"

The move to Elland Road quickened after Bamford was pulled out of their starting XI for a friendly match against Sunderland, and admitted he was surprised to hear that Middlesbrough accepted a bid for him at the time.

"That's when the first offer came in but that didn't really change anything for me as it was just two clubs talking. I'd heard about Leeds being interested, but then we were playing a friendly against Sunderland at Boro and I got cancelled halfway through.

"Tony Pulis said 'come on, let's go for a chat and said I'm taking you out of the starting team, and you know why don't you?'. I said no, but he said Leeds had put a bid in and the club have accepted it. I said really?"

Bamford issued high-praise for former Middlesbrough manager Tony Pulis, with the 62-year-old currently out of work after his time with Boro came to an end.

"He (Pulis) was really good to be fair, and a lot of people have stories about Tony Pulis, but I couldn't speak highly enough about him because he was honest. Once he basically said it was the club's decision, that was it."

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The Verdict: 

It's an interesting insight into a move for a footballer.

Bamford was clearly a player that Leeds had targeted earlier in the transfer window, and he's certainly played his part in their bid for promotion into the Premier League this season.

His high-pressing as the lone striker puts Leeds on the front foot in matches, and he'll be hoping he can build on these impressive performances when competitive action gets back underway.

It's good to see him speaking highly of Pulis as well, as he's a manager that has achieved a considerable amount in the Championship.