They are developing it using their own funding (or at the very least, have done so far) and could always self publish. The game doesn't have a dependence on EA, it is just commonly floated that it is EA's next game, something the Cricket 10 tag helped enforce.
All the information we've been able to confirm is talks with 'a publisher', which could mean anything.
EA frequently publish games they don't have any role in developing. Just speculating, but EA could do a deal with Trine to publish it and share IP/Licences, but Trine would carry the weight of the costs if the game failed to break even.
Good to know that it is not dependent on EA.
So there is still a ray of hope that we might see this game !