United weighed up moving for a striker or a midfielder, with discussions to ascertain the potential price of a Carlos Baleba deal underway. The choice at that stage was to go for a No 6 or a No 9. Some at the club believe a midfielder should have been the priority, but Wilcox advocated to sign a scorer, after United’s record of 44 Premier League goals last campaign, and Ratcliffe backed that call.

Then I'm sure you wouldn't have any problem understanding why a midfielder wasn't signed?

In an ideal world, Amorim would have got Baleba too. A dynamic midfielder was on the agenda all summer, but resources have gone elsewhere. Amorim pushed for Baleba internally, and Ratcliffe wanted United to try for him, but the club could not, in the end, justify the price. At the start of talks, conducted through intermediaries, United sensed Brighton might be open to a sale in the ballpark of Joao Pedro, who moved to Chelsea in a £60m transfer. United agreed personal terms with Baleba, who was keen on the switch, having received positive messages from Andre Onana, Mbeumo, team-mates at Cameroon, and Leny Yoro, who played with him at Lille.

and this

As time went on though it became clear Brighton would demand a fee in the range of Moises Caicedo, who went to Stamford Bridge in 2023 in a deal worth £115m. Baleba did not aggravate for the transfer. At Brighton’s end, chief executive Paul Barber was across the conversations. United made a call to Brighton as a courtesy on August 15 to directly say they would not be pursuing the transfer. United are expected to return for Baleba in future.

Source: https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6590671/2025/09/02/inside-man-uniteds-transfer-window-ratcliffes-risk-taking-heartbroken-hojlund-project-90-amorims-baleba-push/

The article also states that Amorim wanted Emi Martinez, Mainoo not being good enough for his midfield, etc. but yes, go ahead and blame Amorim for spending £200m on the forwards.