Former Scotland and Dons defender Derek Whyte fears English championship clubs will continue to plunder Pittodrie.
Midfielders Jonny Hayes and Niall McGinn have been touted for moves south after playing pivotal roles for Aberdeen in recent seasons with defender Shay Logan now linked with a £200,000 move to Championship club Ipswich Town.
Midfielder Ryan Fraser and defender Richard Foster were among the players sold south in recent years and Whyte fears more will follow.
English Championship and League One clubs have the financial clout to sign the leading players in the Premiership for a pittance compared to the vast sums demanded by their English league rivals.
Whyte, who began his career with Celtic before five lucrative seasons with Middlesbrough, fears the trickle-down impact of the Premier League’s financial clout means bad news for all Scottish clubs.
The 48-year-old said: “People have to accept Celtic and Rangers are going to be able to sign the high-profile players on bigger wages, so if Aberdeen could split the Old Firm it would be a brilliant achievement.
“That said, I do believe Aberdeen should be targeting cup final appearances and doing well in the league.
“Aberdeen have been very good for a couple of years now and that has to continue.
“Celtic have the profile and the revenues from Champions League football which means they are going to dominate Scottish football. Aberdeen should have the expectation of qualifying for European football and then they have to build from that.
“The realism is that Championship clubs in England can pay a huge amount in wages compared to Scottish clubs. Take Niall McGinn, for example. I don’t think he would sign for Hearts, that would be a sideways move, but there are second tier and League One clubs in England able to offer big wages.
“The realistic target for Aberdeen is to push for cups and to get into Europe.
“Supporters have to be realistic about that.
“A good season would be finishing second again, which I think they will do, as they will finish above Rangers, then go on a good cup run and maybe get to a final. That is the target, unless it changes with finances, which I don’t think it will.
“There is an incredible amount of money in England and it is hard for Sottish clubs to compete with that, they just can’t do it. English teams can compete because of the money on offer from the television deals – there is a huge imbalance.
“It is tough for Aberdeen as they want to be competing.”
Midfielder McGinn did not travel to Dubai with the Dons after being given an extended break by the club.