This comes just over four years after England's failed bid for the 2018 FIFA World Cup, instead awarded to Russia in Zurich in December 2010.

The English Football Association plans to use St George's Park, its National Centre in Burton upon Trent, as the focal point of the latest bid, staging other matches at nearby venues.

It is currently unclear as to which other nations are in the running and when contacted by insidethegames, a UEFA spokesman said "there are no further details that can be given at this stage".

"Bids are now in the evaluation process and the Executive Committee will take a decision at its January 26 and 27 meeting in Nyon," said the spokesman.

England won last year's edition of the Championship in Malta after beating The Netherlands on penalties in the final.

The Championship, which reverted from an under 16 to an under 17 competition in 2001, consists of three stages in all - the 52-team qualifying round, the 32-team elite round and the 16-team final tournament.

England's Wayne Rooney is one of the many star names to have played at the European Under 17 Championship ©Getty Images





Established stars such as England's Wayne Rooney and Jack Wilshere, Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo and Germany's Mario Götze, who scored the winning goal in the 2014 FIFA World Cup final, are among those to have played at the Championships.

England, The Netherlands, Spain and Russia are all two-time winners of the Under 17 Championship, while Germany, Turkey, France, Portugal and Switzerland have won it once. 

Bulgaria is due to host this year's Championship finals from May 6 to 22, featuring 16 teams for the first time since 2002. 

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]