Some of Germany's biggest clubs have dropped their pursuit of Portsmouth midfielder Kevin-Prince Boateng.

It was Portsmouth midfielder Boateng's rash tackle in the final against Chelsea that ruled Germany captain Michael Ballack out of the World Cup.

The Sun says Steve McClaren's new club Wolfsburg, Hamburg and Stuttgart were all tracking the £4million-rated 23-year-old, who wants to quit relegated Pompey.

But Boateng has been told there is now no hope of a deal, so he is looking for a switch to Italy's Serie A instead.