Aberdeen manager Derek McInnes is aiming to capitalise on the Dons’ resurgence in Scottish football.
Aberdeen will return to the Europa League after a five-year absence next season and McInnes hopes to use the fanfare which greeted the club’s League Cup success when adding to his squad this summer.
McInnes has refused to comment on links with a move for Caley Thistle defender Graeme Shinnie but expects Aberdeen’s emergence as a force to be reckoned with again to aid his recruitment efforts.
He said: “When I sign a player I tell them where I want the club to be and where the player can fit into achieving that. But I want to see the same enthusiasm from the player of wanting to be here and be part of what we’re doing.
“Any player has to be attracted by the scenes we’ve seen this season.
“This is a team which will be competing in Europe and the fact we can compete in a cup final and win it, and the calibre of player we have signed up for next season, should make them want to be here.
“We won’t be able to pay any more money than we’ve paid this season but the fact we have been successful and want more should, I hope, make us an attractive proposition.”
The last minute defeat by Motherwell which has resulted in a July 3 start to the next campaign still irks the Aberdeen manager but having had time to reflect on his club’s campaign he believes the players and supporters can be proud of their efforts. But that will not stop him pushing for more next season.
He said: “We are in the fight now and have respectability. We are fighting to be successful and the demand to go again is there.
“If someone had said we would be top six and win a cup we all would have taken that, but our goals changed as the season progressed.
“We wanted to be in the Scottish Cup final and in Europe and we achieved one of those two goals.
“We’re moving in the right direction but there is a lot more work to be done.
“We have to keep working hard and recognise it took us a long time to get back to where we are and only a good attitude and good recruitment will keep us there.
“There is a lot to be proud of this season.”