Uruguay forward Darwin Núñez dribbles against Spain at the World Cup Ulises Ruiz / AFP / Getty ImagesJuly 23, 2026 10:53 am EDT Updated Atlanta United is pursuing Uruguay international forward Darwin Núñez, sources briefed on the situation tell The Athletic.Talks have commenced but are not yet advanced, sources add. The club is simultaneously negotiating with a few high-level targets, including Switzerland World Cup forward Breel Embolo, sources confirm.Atlanta has the financial power to make such ambitious deals happen, but it does not currently have a designated player roster spot open. That could be changing soon, as an exit is nearing for club-record signing Emmanuel Latte Lath. The forward was held out of the team’s match against Charlotte FC on Wednesday night as a precaution with transfer negotiations intensifying, sporting director Chris Henderson told media.Núñez, 27, is departing Al Hilal this summer after being left out of the squad when the team signed Karim Benzema. Saudi Arabian clubs can only register eight foreign players, and Núñez was dropped from the roster when Benzema signed.The Uruguayan had six goals and four assists in 16 matches before losing his place. Núñez’s appearances with Uruguay at the World Cup this summer were his first competitive games since February.Núñez previously featured for Liverpool, joining the club in 2022 from Benfica for a fee worth around $90 million. He won a league title in England, with 25 goals and 16 assists across 95 Premier League appearances (4,861 minutes).Embolo, 29, is currently with Stade Rennes and featured for Switzerland at the 2026 World Cup, with his tournament ending with a controversial red card following a VAR check for mistaken identity against Argentina. He has 92 caps and 26 goals (including two at the 2026 World Cup) for his country.TalkSport’s Ben Jacobs was the first to report Atlanta’s interest in Embolo.Embolo had eight goals and three assists in Ligue 1 this season. He began his career with FC Basel and previously featured for AS Monaco, Schalke and Borussia Monchengladbach.