The last time Simon Jordan told Manchester United to pay up, the Red Devils refused to listen to his advice. And it’s fair to say Sir Jim Ratcliffe emerged victorious from a saga that had been running throughout much of 2024. Not only did Manchester United finally get their man in Dan Ashworth, they also sealed the long-awaited appointment of their new sporting director on their terms. Ratcliffe made it clear from day one that he had no intention of paying the compensation fee of £20 million Newcastle wanted, which Jordan urged him to agree on. So, when Newcastle finally accepted a fee of ‘sig…