Mexico’s Andres Guardado could soon sign with Atlanta United, according to an ESPN report.

John Sutcliffe, the first reporter to claim the MLS expansion club was interested in signing the midfielder a few weeks ago, said on Wednesday that the two sides are close to an agreement. Sports Illustrated has also reported on the mutual interest.

Various Atlanta United officials have repeatedly said they don’t comment on players until they sign with their club.

Guardado, 29, is captain of the Mexican national team that will play Chile in the quarterfinals of the Copa America Centenario. He is also vice captain of his club team, PSV Eindhoven, in Holland.

Club President Darren Eales has warned against reading too much into reports of players being tied to Atlanta United. Because the team has a mostly open roster, players and agents can use that as leverage in negotiations with their clubs, regardless of Atlanta United’s level of interest.

In the past 12 months, Wayne Rooney, Carlos Vela and Marco Fabian have been linked to moving to Atlanta, for example.

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Atlanta Dream center Brittney Griner (42) fights for possession during the first half of a WNBA basketball first-round playoff game against the Indiana Fever at Gateway Center Arena on Sunday, Sept. 14, 2024, in Atlanta. 
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