Patrick Bamford has recalled a bizarre phone call with someone purporting to be a producer of Love Island over a role on the ITV show in the lead-up to the new Premier League season.
The Leeds United forward has said he received a call from an individual offering him a place the dating show just as the Whites were preparing for the start of the 2021/22 campaign.
Had the offer been authentic - and if the 28-year-old decided to accept the invitation - then he would become the first top-flight player to ever appear on the programme since it was launched in 2015.
Former Wolves midfielder Aaron Simpson and Wealdstone forward Dennon Lewis have previously gone on to the show, but Bamford declined the offer.
It's a phone call that he described as 'random' and the England international explained the situation in an interview with Sky Sports before the 1-1 draw at Newcastle United.
"Ironically, I was lying in bed one night when it was on. It must've been 11 o'clock and I got a phone call from a withheld number," Bamford said.
"I never normally answer it but I answered it and I can't remember what his name was. Think it was Chris or something like that and he said: 'Hi, it's Chris from ITV'.
"I was so unsure what was going on and he said: 'We're just ringing up you about the dating show that's going on at the minute, which is Love Island. Do you know how Casa Amor has just finished, we could do with a bombshell to go into the villa and we think you'd be perfect.'
"I just kept going along with it and he asked if I was up for going in but I don't think my girlfriend would've been too happy. He then asked if she wanted to go in. So, I just kept playing along with it and it went a bit silly, it was so random as I'm not even sure who it was."
Since fielding that ramdon call, Bamford has scored once and provided three assists in six matches so far this season.
He also made his England debut earlier this month when he started the 4-0 win over Andorra at Wembley.
