The Daily Mail says City would like him now but Boateng feels a degree of loyalty to Hamburg who have developed him as a player and would rather wait until after the World Cup.
The valuation is around £20m while City were looking to pay around £12m knowing there is supposed to be a clause in his contract that allows him to go in the summer for £10.6m.
Hamburg have tried to re-negotiate the contract but talks have stalled.