Mel Reddy is as clued in when it comes to L'pool as Barrett, King, Bascombe or anyone else. There's a handful of Merseyside based Nationals who are the only ones worth any credence when it comes to L'pool/ Everton reporting.
The only local guy you can question is Pearce who tends to get his news secondhand but he is at least getting better in having his own opinion these day's rather than just spouting the club line. Although the Echo stopped being relevant around the time they stopped the Sat'day pink the early '00's so yer know.
You just described a combination of what Henderson is/ has become in his new role this season but the virtues of differing skill sets I'm not going to debate until we actually sign someone. I'll just take a wait and see approach to save any disappointment.