Transfer news live: Pep Guardiola 'ready to renew' interest in Arsenal's Hector Bellerin, plus latest deals and reports

Good morning and welcome to the Independent's coverage of today's football transfer news. Keep up to date with all the latest deals and reports live as the January deadline looms. 

Perhaps today's biggest transfer rumour concerns Arsenal's Hector Bellerin.

According to The Times, Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola is 'ready to renew' his interest in the Spaniard as he looks to reinforce his leaky defence. 

Bellerin has been previously linked to City but any talk of a possible transfer was quickly shut down. The player also signed a new deal worth a reported £30m last November.

Bellerin in action for Arsenal against Crystal Palace 

With Arsenal extremely unlikely to sell one of their most prized assets in the January window, or the summer for the matter, it looks like Pep may have another fight on his hands.

Aston Villa are the latest Championship side to show an interest in signing Arsenal striker Chuba Akpom on loan, according to the Birmingham Mail.

The 21-year-old has managed just 83 minutes of senior football since the summer and has struggled to deliver on his potential.

Wenger still has high hopes for the striker and was considering using him in cup games this season before he picked up an injury.

Akpom was on loan at Bruce’s former club Hull City last season where he scored seven times for the Tigers as they were promoted to the Premier League.

Goncalo Guedes, who had been linked to Manchester United throughout the January transfer window, won't be moving to Old Trafford anytime soon joining Paris Saint-Germain instead. 

The 20-year-old winger has signed for £22.5m from Benfica, with the French giants potentially paying £6m more in add-ons.

Chelsea are not backing down in their pursuit of Franck Kessie, according to the Daily Star.

The Atalanta midfielder has emerged as a key target for Antonio Conte this month and Chelsea are eager to push the deal through.

But Atalanta are standing firm and reports suggest the club have already turned down a £27m offer from the Blues.

Franck Kessie in action for the Ivory Coast 

Kessie is thought to be open to a move though, but he doesn't want to force an exit through with the Italian club and end his spell on a sour note.

Nonetheless, the player's agent has allegedly held talks with Chelsea and the Blues are confident an agreement will be reached.

West Ham and Burnley will compete for the signing of Hull City top scorer Robert Snodgrass after the Hammers had a bid accepted.

Burnley had an offer accepted on Wednesday and, while both are believed to be in the region of £10m, West Ham's is higher.

The Tigers say the move is now down to the player and he has not yet gone for a medical at Burnley.

Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic is in talks over a move to Zenit St Petersburg, according to the Daily Mail.

The report from the Mail suggests the 32-year-old will be allowed to leave on a free transfer. It's understood the Russian club is keen to sign him over the weekend on a three-and-a-half-year deal.

Everton, Leicester City and West Ham have all shown interest but as they deliberate over offers, Zenit have made their move.

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Meanwhile, the 'Egg' is back at it following Liverpool's EFL Cup defeat on Wednesday night...

Crystal Palace are closing in on the £13m signing of Serbian midfielder Luka Milivojevic from Olympiacos.

Sam Allardyce is desperate to strengthen his midfield, which has been short ever since Mile Jedinak was sold to Aston Villa, and is interested in Yann M’Vila from Rubin Kazan.

But Milivojevic has emerged ahead of M'Vila this week as a more likely signing before the end of the window. Palace are locked in negotiations with Olympiacos to complete a deal but the basics are in place and the fee will be just under £13m (€15m).

The sticking point between the two clubs is the percentage of any future sale that Olympiacos are entitled to, with the Greek club pushing for 20 per cent. 

Allardyce turned his attention to Milivojevic after becoming frustrated in his pursuit of M’Vila, who spent last season playing for Allardyce on loan to Sunderland from his Russian club side.

Chelsea have been linked to Celtic goalkeeper Craig Gordon with reports suggesting the Premier League side are ready to make a bid.

Gordon, 34, has resurrected his career at Parkhead and with Scotland after a two-year spell out with injury. That has led to a reports linking him with a move to Stamford Bridge as Chelsea consider whether or not to allow Asmir Begovic to join Bournemouth.

Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers is not surprised by Chelsea's reported interest in Craig Gordon but insists his goalkeeper is going nowhere.

The Northern Irishman, who spent four years working in the Chelsea youth setup, told the London club they would be wasting their time bidding for Gordon.

Craig Gordon 

"If it is the case then of course we don't want to sell him," Rodgers said. "I am not surprised. His contract is up at the end of the season but there is an option for the club. But it is not something we would consider really.

"Craig has had that trauma of a couple of years out, not playing. And from my experience, he loves playing football. He maybe thought his career was done but he is 34, fit as he has ever been and playing at the best level he has done, according to him.

"He has the opportunity to win trophies. He has the opportunity to play in the Champions League and he has an opportunity to stay at home with his family. His kids are settled so he is in a good place and we want to keep him.

"Of course it is a great honour if these clubs want him but he knows like all of them, Celtic is a huge club and he is very much part of what we are trying to build here."