Patrick Bamford has claimed that the 2018-19 Championship is very much "an open ticket" and believes that Leeds United must make the most of the opportunity in their pursuit of promotion.

The 24-year-old made the £7m switch from Middlesbrough to the Whites on Tuesday, joining a club managed by the esteemed Marcelo Bielsa.

Bamford believes that only Stoke City can be considered a heavy favourite for promotion this term, and is hoping that Leeds will finally make their Premier League return after more than a decade outside the top flight.

"I think if you look at it over the last few years in the Championship you can always pick out maybe two teams where you thought they might run away with it," Bamford told the Yorkshire Evening Post.

"This year it's open to pretty much anyone. There isn't anyone, obviously Stoke have spent a bit of money and they're trying to get straight back, but apart from maybe them it's an open ticket really, so it's up to us to take it with both hands and see how far we can get."

Leeds finished 13th in the Championship table last term.