Most papers will have a designated Liverpool Chelsea city United spurs arsenal journalist whilst the rest have journalists for an area like the midlands which will cover villa leicester brum wolves forest etc or the north east for Newcastle Sunderland Boro and while there is a certain amount of leaking from the club there is also leaking from potential selling clubs. I doubt very much that we are telling the media our every move before we make it.
The other thing is that there is a trickling down of wealth from the big 6 and maybe even the super 7 with what Everton are having to pay for pickford. But with the amount of money that even the team that finishes bottom gets I don't think that should be as big a factor any more i.e. why should Maguire be available for less to perceived smaller teams like Leicester who won the league and made a fortune from champions league and premier league finish and we would have to pay double.