Persib Bandung chief denies Robin van Persie link

Persib Bandung commissioner Zainuri Hasyim has turned down speculation linking former Arsenal striker Robin van Persie with a move to the club. The Netherlands international had recently emerged as a surprise target for the Indonesian outfit, who have endured a poor season in the first edition of the Liga 1.

Speaking to reporters, Hasyim stressed that the club will have to evaluate their season, while also dismissing talk of Van Persie making the switch to the Far East, he said: "I do not know about [the van Persie] issue, and there is no such news on him here. The media can write about anything they want, but there are no issues on Robin van Persie here. We will gather first to discuss who the coach and local players [which will be maintained] including the evaluation of the competition yesterday [this season]. Then [in the meeting] preparing for next year, we will get together first, the faster the better."

Persib hit the headlines earlier this year after they recruited former Premier League players Carlton Cole and Michael Essien. While Cole was released midway through the season for his ineffectiveness, Essien continued to play a key role in the starting line-up, contributing five goals in 27 appearances.

Despite this, the club linger in the bottom half of the table in 12th with just one game left in the season, and the club are now on the search for a potential replacement for coach Emral Abus, who could not push Persib for the title challenge.

Aside from Essien, the likes of Peter Odemwingie also left their mark in the inaugural Liga 1 season, and the nation is now hoping to attract some of the bigger names in world football, who are approaching the final years of their respective careers. Essien currently has a one-year extension clause on his contract with Persib, and the club are likely to take a decision on his future at the end of the campaign.