Talking to very good players and signing them is very different. Anyone that is a very good player for us will also be able to play in the championship or EPL (most likely too good for us.) Add Hearts for example and the offer of living in Edinburgh and European football, recruitment is tough. English options will most likely offer a better wage, plus we can't say we are the 3rd best team in Scotland and offering Euro footie.
As has been mentioned, most of these players will wait for the best offer, very few come to us because Aberdeen was always the team they wanted to play for. Summer is going to be a bit of a shit show me thinks...