Ilia Greuv reacts when asked if he'd leave Leeds United for a German club in the future | OneFootball

Ilia Gruev has given his thoughts on a return to Germany.

Leeds United midfielder Ilia Gruev has admitted that he is unsure about a return to Germany in the near future, having joined the Whites from Werder Bremen in 2023.

The Bulgarian footballer emerged from Bremen's academy in 2021 and featured 62 times for them before making the move to England in a deal worth £4 million.

The 24-year-old took some time to prove himself at Elland Road, but from midway through last season, Daniel Farke began to put his trust in him. He was outstanding towards the end of last year and had a special moment in the play-off semi-final against Norwich City when he bagged the opener in a 4-0 win.

The midfielder carried this form into the current campaign before a knee injury sidelined him for three months. Unfortunately, he hasn't come out of the other side quite the same player, but with a consistent run of games, you imagine he will be back to his best.

The Whites will certainly need this as they are tightly embroiled in a three-way battle with Burnley and Sheffield United for two automatic promotion spots.

Ilia Gruev outlines Leeds future

Speaking to Sport1, Gruev has admitted just how much he loves life at Leeds United.

"When I left Bremen, I left my comfort zone," said the 24-year-old.

“After all, I was there for eight years and had a great time at Werder. It was a piece of home for me. Then came the offer from Leeds and I was immediately interested.

"Something is happening at the club. And football in England is very different to Germany. The Premier League is the best league in the world. I’m a lot closer to that with the move to Leeds. We’re doing very well at the moment and want to finally make the step up. I live just outside the city, and I can also feel the importance of the club there."

Posed the question of whether he would consider a return to Germany in the near future, he said: "Honestly? I don’t know. The goal now is clearly to get promoted with Leeds.

"The Premier League would be an absolute dream for me. I want to play in the best league in the world. I find the Bundesliga very attractive, but for now, I want to continue proving myself in England."

Ilia Gruev and Leeds need to make Premier League "dream" a reality

Leeds and Gruev have allowed their promotion rivals back into the race in recent weeks, with just one win in four games chipping away at their advantage.

The Whites must remain fully focused on the task at hand, as a top-two finish will not simply be handed to them.

Their run-in is arguably favourable, with no fixtures against any of the five teams directly below them, which should provide some reassurance despite recent setbacks.

If they do secure promotion, they can turn their attention to the challenges of the top flight. For now, though, they have eight games to ensure they get there.