Looks like that's Real Madrid's new strategy of getting players that they want without playing expensively for it. Look at how they signed Mbappe, and this summer Trent. Seems similar thing will happen to Konate when his contract expires next season. Real Madrid approaches the players one or two season before the end of their contract in their club and it is working for them.
It is obviously working for them because they have tried it with Kylian Mbappe, Alexander Arnold and now they are about using similar strategy for Konate. Konate has rejected new proposals from Liverpool which means when his contract expires next summer he will be able to join Madrid for free. The only thing Liverpool can do now is to accept a fee from Madrid this summer to avoid losing him for free.